dot the i's and cross the t's en · VERB
Pronunciation
- /ˌdɑt ði ˈaɪz ən ˌkɹɔs ðə ˈtiz/ (General-American)
- /ˌdɒt ði ˈaɪz ən ˌkɹɒs ðə ˈtiːz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (Australia) audio
- /ˌdɔt ðɘ ˈɒez ɘn ˌkɹɔs ðɘ ˈtɘiz/ (New-Zealand)
- (US) audio
- (US) audio
Etymology
In reference to cursive (joined up) writing, where adding the dot to the letter i and the crossbar to the letter t is done after one reaches the end of the word and thus may be forgotten if one is not being careful.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) To take care of every detail, even minor ones; to be meticulous or thorough; to finish off something close to complete.
Before taking the project to the CEO, let's make sure we dot the i's and cross the t's.
1858, United States Congress, Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, D. Appleton, page 387; from a January 1820 debate Pray, sir, what is the object of referring a bill to a committee —merely to dot the i's and cross the t's?
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dot one's i's and cross one's t's | alternative | lexicographic | |
| dot the i's | alternative | lexicographic | |
| cross the i's and dot the t's | alternative | lexicographic | |
| cross the t's and dot the i's | alternative | lexicographic | |
| dotting the i's and crossing the t's | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| dots the i's and crosses the t's | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| dotted the i's and crossed the t's | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| dotted the i's and crossed the t's | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Relateds
mind one's p's and q's · i-dotting · cross someone's T · i-dotter · jot and tittle
Translations (15)
sv sätta pricken över i (Take care of every detail) · de das i-Tüpfelchen setzen (Take care of every detail) · fa مراقب جزئیات بودن (Take care of every detail) · nn setja prikken over i-en (Take care of every detail) · es poner los puntos sobre las íes (Take care of every detail) · nl de puntjes op de i zetten (Take care of every detail) · ru ста́вить то́чки над i (Take care of every detail) · fi viimeistellä yksityiskohdat (Take care of every detail) · pl postawić kropkę nad i (Take care of every detail) · pt pôr os pingos nos is (Take care of every detail) · pl dopiąć na ostatni guzik (Take care of every detail) · uk розставити всі крапки над «і» (Take care of every detail) · pt pôr os pontos nos is (Take care of every detail) · ru расста́вить все точки над i (Take care of every detail) · it mettere i puntini sulle i (Take care of every detail)