fine-tooth comb

American  

[fahyn-tooth] / ˈfaɪnˌtuθ /

Also fine-toothed comb

noun

1. a comb having narrow, closely set teeth.

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idioms

1. 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.

fine-tooth comb British  

noun

1. a comb with fine teeth set closely together

2. to examine very thoroughly

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fine-tooth comb More Idioms  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of fine-tooth comb

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

While there are similarities between transactions designed to avoid different reporting requirements, investigators will look at them with a fine-tooth comb.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

“Keffe, today what we’re going to do, we’re just going to go over with a fine-tooth comb the Las Vegas incident,” Kading said at the time, according to transcripts.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2023

For once, nobody was in the least bit bothered about being ordered out of the car, bodies searched, vehicle and bags gone through with a fine-tooth comb.

From BBC • Aug. 23, 2022

Once it's developed, then we walk it back and see, all right, let's kind of go through this with a fine-tooth comb, but initially we just trying to make each other laugh.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2022

"Yes—you win! It's Armstrong all right. But where the devil did he hide himself? We went over the place with a fine-tooth comb."

From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie

Related Words

• comb
• rummage
• scour
• scrounge