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