Dictionary

fine-tooth comb en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˌfaɪntuːθ ˈkəʊm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌfaɪnˌtuθ ˈkoʊm/ (General-American)

Etymology

The noun is derived from fine (“particularly slender”) + tooth (“sharp projection”) + comb. The verb is derived from the noun.

Meanings

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.
   • 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. 1858, Lola Montez, The Arts of Beauty, Chapter 21:
   • 'Member dat rainy eve dat I drove you out, Wid nothing but a fine tooth comb? 1902, Hughie Cannon, “Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home?”:
2. (figuratively) A means of making a thorough search.
   • 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. 1912, Franklin P. Adams, Of Course You Would:
   • The police went through his possessions with a fine-tooth comb.

Forms

Deriveds

toothcomb

Relateds

fingertip search

Synonyms

toothcomb · toothcomb

Translations (13)

ga cíor mhín (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · ko 참빗 (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · fi tiheä kampa (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · pl przeczesywanie (means of making a thorough search) · sv finkam (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · de Lupe (means of making a thorough search) · nl loep (means of making a thorough search) · ru густо́й гребешо́к (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · pl grzebień z ząbkami (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · fi tiheäpiikkinen kampa (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · ga cíor mhín (means of making a thorough search) · cmn 篦 (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth) · fr peigne fin (comb with fine, closely-spaced teeth)

fine-tooth comb en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˌfaɪntuːθ ˈkəʊm/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌfaɪnˌtuθ ˈkoʊm/ (General-American)

Etymology

The noun is derived from fine (“particularly slender”) + tooth (“sharp projection”) + comb. The verb is derived from the noun.

Meanings

1. (dated, transitive) To comb or go through (hair, an animal's fur, etc.) with a comb having fine, closely spaced teeth.
2. (figuratively, transitive) To search (something or somewhere) meticulously.
   • "There's one other way of discovering the writer,—find a Rem-Smith typewriter with an alignment imperfect in just this way." "Yes," said Astro. "We might begin and fine-tooth-comb the city for it.:Template:.." 1912, Frank Gelett Burgess, The Master of Mysteries, Mrs. Stellery's Letters:

Forms

Synonyms

comb through · turn upside down · scour · leave no stone unturned · pore over · comb over

Translations (22)

pl przeczesywać (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fr ratisser (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fi tutkia läpikotaisin (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · cmn 篦 (to comb or go through (hair, an animal’s fur, etc.) with a comb having fine, closely spaced teeth) · pl przeczesać (to comb or go through (hair, an animal’s fur, etc.) with a comb having fine, closely spaced teeth) · pl przeczesywać (to comb or go through (hair, an animal’s fur, etc.) with a comb having fine, closely spaced teeth) · hu tűvé tesz (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fi käydä läpi tiheällä kammalla (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fr passer au peigne fin (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · is fínkemba (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fi kammata tiheällä kammalla (to comb or go through (hair, an animal’s fur, etc.) with a comb having fine, closely spaced teeth) · ru прочёсывать (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · ru прочеса́ть (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · pl przeczesać (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fi haravoida (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · de unter die Lupe nehmen (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · fr passer au crible (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · nl onder de loep nemen (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · el χτενίζω (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · es desmenuzar (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · sv finkamma (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously) · ga scag go mion (to search (something or somewhere) meticulously)