IdiomBody & Senses
English
Englishfine-tooth comb
Meaning: An imaginary device one uses to look for something very carefully.
Example: “The auditors went through the accounts with a fine-tooth comb.”
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: syna i sömmarna Literally: To see in the seams
Origin: A comb with very closely spaced teeth was used to remove lice and their eggs from hair, which required checking every strand. Going over something "with a fine-tooth comb" meant searching thoroughly from the late 19th century.
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