fine-tooth comb

American  

[fahyn-tooth] / ˈfaɪnˌtuθ /

Also fine-toothed comb

noun

1. a comb having narrow, closely set teeth.

---

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of fine-tooth comb

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fine-tooth comb

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

“We suspect they were going through everything with a fine-tooth comb looking for anything to peg her with after the fact,” Gauthier said, adding that his client was cleared of wrongdoing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

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

He’d learned that a fine-tooth comb was never going to make its way through my hair and that a wide-toothed one really only worked when my hair was wet.

From "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson

Related Words

• comb
• rummage
• scour
• scrounge