noun
1. a comb with teeth set close together
• Syn: ↑fine-toothed comb
• Hypernyms: ↑comb
2. a method of examining in minute detail
-
he went over the contract with a fine-tooth comb looking for loopholes
• Syn: ↑fine-toothed comb
• Hypernyms: ↑examination, ↑scrutiny
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noun1. : a comb with teeth set close together used especially for cleaning lice, nits, and other matter from the hair
2. : an attitude or system of thoroughly searching or scrutinizing
went through that house with a fine-tooth comb — Merle Miller
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/fuyn"toohth'/
1. a comb having narrow, closely set teeth.
2. go over or 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.
Also, fine-toothed comb /fuyn"toohtht', -toohdhd'/.
[1830-40]
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fine-tooth comb , fine-toothed comb or fine comb noun
A comb with slender teeth set close together
• • •
Main Entry: ↑fine
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a comb with very thin parts and very narrow spaces between them
Thesaurus: hair care substances and equipmenthyponym
Variant: fine-toothed comb
Phrase: with a fine-tooth comb
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fine-tooth comb, «FYN TOOTH»,
= fine-toothed comb. (Cf. ↑fine-toothed comb)
fine-tooth-comb «FYN TOOTH KOHM», transitive verb.
to go over with a fine-toothed comb; fine-comb: »
It would be squalid to fine-tooth-comb the volume for contradictions (New York Times).
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(also fine-toothed comb) n. a comb with narrow teeth that are close together
■ [in sing.] used with reference to a very thorough search or analysis of something
you should check the small print with a fine-tooth comb
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/ˈfaınˌtuːθ-/ noun, pl ⋯ combs [count]
: a comb with many small teeth
go over/through (something) with a fine-tooth comb
: to examine something very closely
The police are going over the evidence with a fine-tooth comb.
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a ↑comb in which the pointed parts are thin and very close together
Useful english dictionary. 2012.