Meaning of fine-tooth comb | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A comb with fine, closely spaced teeth, especially one used for removing head lice and their nits (eggs) from the hair; a nit comb.
2. A means of making a thorough search.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“The practice of combing the heads of children too frequently with a fine tooth comb is a bad one, as the points of the teeth are quite sure to scratch⟳ and irritate the scalp, and are almost sure to produce⟳ scurf or dandruff.”

“'Member dat rainy eve dat I drove you out, Wid nothing but a fine tooth comb?”

“The police went through his possessions with a fine-tooth comb.”

“If you had to make⟳ some verses on the topics of the day, You would read⟳ the morning papers rather fully; For you’d like⟳ to find⟳ a theme to make⟳ your readers shout⟳: “Hooray!” And to make⟳ your Dear Employer say⟳: “That’s bully!” You would scan⟳ aforesaid journals with a very fine-tooth comb (With the metaphors I’m something of a mixer.) For a nifty little subject you could pad into a pome; And you’d have⟳ to be about it pretty quick, sir.”

CEFR level