fine-tooth comb
noun
1
: a comb with close-set teeth used especially for clearing parasites or foreign matter from the hair
2
: an attitude or system of thorough searching or scrutinizing
went over the report with a fine-tooth comb
Examples of fine-tooth comb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Novak takes a fine-tooth comb to every social interaction, a habit that makes for brilliant comedy but exasperating real-life exchanges.
—
Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024
On Reddit and Lipstick Alley message boards, readers questioned Millz’s authenticity with a fine-tooth comb.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
The Moon is marching into your 2nd House of Earned Income, making this the perfect day to go over your accounts with a fine-tooth comb and make sure that everything is on the up-and-up.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
So the forensic folks are going to go through that, all those locations, with a fine-tooth comb.
—Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 15 July 2023
Go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 June 2021
That being said, a fine-tooth comb is terrific at finishing and setting styles, too—like taming flyaways or coaching things into shape (after the beard brush and/or wide-tooth comb has done most of the lifting).
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2022
Today, knowing that any big performance is only real once someone goes over it with a fine-tooth comb is a simple reality of the sport.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 7 Feb. 2022
The ratings are a blunt instrument; Paul is a fine-tooth comb.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024
On Reddit and Lipstick Alley message boards, readers questioned Millz’s authenticity with a fine-tooth comb.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
The Moon is marching into your 2nd House of Earned Income, making this the perfect day to go over your accounts with a fine-tooth comb and make sure that everything is on the up-and-up.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
So the forensic folks are going to go through that, all those locations, with a fine-tooth comb.
—Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 15 July 2023
Go over your resume with a fine-tooth comb.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 June 2021
That being said, a fine-tooth comb is terrific at finishing and setting styles, too—like taming flyaways or coaching things into shape (after the beard brush and/or wide-tooth comb has done most of the lifting).
—Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2022
Today, knowing that any big performance is only real once someone goes over it with a fine-tooth comb is a simple reality of the sport.
—Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 7 Feb. 2022
The ratings are a blunt instrument; Paul is a fine-tooth comb.
—Brett Owens, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fine-tooth comb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fine-tooth comb
Cite this Entry
“Fine-tooth comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine-tooth%20comb. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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