fine-tooth comb
noun
1
: a comb with close-set teeth used especially for clearing parasites or foreign matter from the hair
2
: an attitude or system of thorough searching or scrutinizing
went over the report with a fine-tooth comb
Examples of fine-tooth comb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s reading something with a fine-tooth comb, then there’s taking 20 months to review and finalize a 12-page document that specifies terms for the five-year deal.
—
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025
Groberg’s first bit of advice is to get a copy of your credit reports and go over them with a fine-tooth comb, looking for errors, outdated negative items or signs of fraud.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Volvo has taken a fine-tooth comb to those as part of the design process.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
After washing, use a fine-tooth comb to pick out excess hair and buildup.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Aug. 2024
Novak takes a fine-tooth comb to every social interaction, a habit that makes for brilliant comedy but exasperating real-life exchanges.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024
On Reddit and Lipstick Alley message boards, readers questioned Millz’s authenticity with a fine-tooth comb.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
The Moon is marching into your 2nd House of Earned Income, making this the perfect day to go over your accounts with a fine-tooth comb and make sure that everything is on the up-and-up.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
So the forensic folks are going to go through that, all those locations, with a fine-tooth comb.
—Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 15 July 2023
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Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2025
Groberg’s first bit of advice is to get a copy of your credit reports and go over them with a fine-tooth comb, looking for errors, outdated negative items or signs of fraud.
—Brian Sloan, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Volvo has taken a fine-tooth comb to those as part of the design process.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
After washing, use a fine-tooth comb to pick out excess hair and buildup.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 9 Aug. 2024
Novak takes a fine-tooth comb to every social interaction, a habit that makes for brilliant comedy but exasperating real-life exchanges.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024
On Reddit and Lipstick Alley message boards, readers questioned Millz’s authenticity with a fine-tooth comb.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 13 Sep. 2023
The Moon is marching into your 2nd House of Earned Income, making this the perfect day to go over your accounts with a fine-tooth comb and make sure that everything is on the up-and-up.
—Tarot Astrologers, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2023
So the forensic folks are going to go through that, all those locations, with a fine-tooth comb.
—Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 15 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Fine-tooth comb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fine-tooth%20comb. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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