What does with a fine toothed mean?

What does with a fine toothed mean?

go over/through (something) with a fine-tooth comb idiom. : to examine something very closely.

Is it fine-tooth comb or fine-tooth comb?

The correct form is “fine-toothed comb,” but Garner’s Modern American Usage says the spelling “fine-tooth comb” is far more common. ” ‘Fine-toothed comb’ better reflects the literal meaning – a comb with teeth set close together, rather than a comb with fine (very thin) teeth,” according to Garner.

What can I use instead of a fine-tooth comb?

synonyms for go over with a fine-tooth comb

• ask pointed questions.
• catechize.
• check.
• cross-question.
• debrief.
• examine.
• give the third degree.
• grill.

How do you use fine-tooth comb in a sentence?

go over / through with a fine-tooth comb, to examine in close detail; search thoroughly; fine-comb: The police went over the apartment with a fine-tooth comb.

Where did the saying fine-tooth comb come from?

The idiom go over with a fine-tooth comb comes from the action of using a literal, physical, fine-tooth comb. Such combs are often used in the treatment of a lice infestation. A special comb with narrow, closely-spaced teeth is used to comb out the lice nits.

Do lice combs work?

If you’re determined not to use an OTC lice treatment, though, or lice treatments have failed you, combing can eradicate a lice infestation. A lice comb is a good diagnostic device, too. Studies have found that a lice comb is the best tool for finding live lice.

Who discovered comb?

Egyptians were among the earliest, if not the earliest, to develop combs circa 5500 BCE. Persians also developed combs around 3000 BCE or so.

How many teeth are in a comb?

The best part about comb is that the ends of the teeth are nicely rounded, not sharp or pokey. Do you find this helpful? The tooth length is about 1 in and there are about 7 teeth per in on the one side of the comb, a little less less on the other side where the teeth are further apart.

What is the meaning of idiom a cold fish?

a person who seems unemotional, which makes them appear unfriendly or unsympathetic. He didn’t really show much emotion – he’s a bit of a cold fish.

What does smart cookie mean?

clever person
a clever person who makes good decisions: He is a smart cookie, adjusting his songs to fit his audiences. You are one smart cookie.

Where do lice come from?

Head lice are transmitted from one host to another through close personal contact. For the most part, this means that a non-infested person would have to be in head-to-head contact with an infected person. Sharing combs, brushes, towels, hats and other personal items can hasten the spread of head lice.

What does it mean to use a fine tooth comb?

a fine-tooth comb A phrase used to describe a way of doing something that is very careful and thorough. We need to go through these files with a fine-tooth comb to find that missing paperwork. A method of searching or investigating in minute detail, as in He examined the figures with a fine-tooth comb but found no errors.

What does comb mean in history?

A method of searching or investigating in minute detail, as in He examined the figures with a fine-tooth comb but found no errors. The practice of using a comb with close-set teeth to comb out head lice was transferred to various kinds of investigation in the late 1800s. The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

What is a finefine comb?

fine-tooth comb. [fahyn-tooth] noun. a comb having narrow, closely set teeth.

What does it mean to go through something with a comb?

with a fine-tooth comb. › If you go through something with a fine-tooth comb, you examine it in great detail and with great care: We have gone through the evidence with a fine-tooth comb. Thesaurus: synonyms and related words. Detailed and careful. blow-by-blow. detailed. diligence.