fine-toothed
1
5.0
- adjective
:
de púas finas
- The detective searched the crime scene with a fine-toothed comb, hoping to find overlooked evidence.
- a fine-toothed comb
Examples
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The special educators also expressed valuing the chart, "as the liaison, it would force me to go over those IEPs with a fine-toothed comb" (Karen).
Academic text (2012) -
"Looks as if we do this the hard way, then, with a magnifying glass and a fine-toothed comb," he said with a sigh.
Fiction book (1991) -
Go over that beach with a fine-toothed comb.
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You know, Scotland Yard went over the whole estate with a fine-toothed comb, who knows what really happened here?
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Because peer review generally means that several people have gone through your analysis with a fine-toothed comb, looking for errors and suggesting changes and improvements.
Blog text (4) -
So, you're telling me a medical team hasn't gone over this guy's brain with a fine-toothed comb already?
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The details of Obama's policy positions, his actions, and what he said he would do but did not do in his first term can be gone over with a fine-toothed comb.
Blog text (17) -
A crew of archaeologists would then be sent in to pick apart the 1.5-mile reservoir with a fine-toothed comb.
Fiction book (2000) -
"I want you to understand that we've been through all your numbers with a fine-toothed comb, and I've discounted the bullshit inventory."
Fiction book (1994) -
The editor reviewed the manuscript with a fine-toothed comb to catch every mistake.
Synonyms
1
7.5
An edge with small teeth like a saw
1
6.4
With a jagged edge of sharp, regular teeth like a saw
Having a finely toothed edge with many small close teeth like some leaves
Thin, evenly spaced parts that stick out in a row like small teeth
Having small teeth
Having a jagged edge with small points like teeth
An edge with small teeth that point toward the tip
A jagged edge like a saw
Having small sharp points like a jagged edge
How Fine-Toothed
1
5.0
3
6.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Fine-toothed comes from a comb or saw with very small teeth, because fine means 'small' and tooth means the little 'teeth' on a comb. A fine-toothed comb catches very small bits, so to do something with a fine-toothed approach means to check it very carefully and find even the smallest mistakes.