[fahyn-tooth] 
| 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. |
[fahyn-tootht, -tooth
d] .| fine-tooth comb (fīn'tōōth') n.
|
fine-tooth comb
A method of searching or investigating in minute detail, as in He examined the figures with a fine-tooth comb but found no errors. The practice of using a comb with close-set teeth to comb out head lice was transferred to various kinds of investigation in the late 1800s.