🔍 Fine-Tooth Comb, To Go Over With A
Definition: To search for or investigate with scrupulous care.
Imagine you’re Sherlock Holmes, but instead of a magnifying glass, you have a wonderfully minuscule-toothed comb tailored for each and every strand of investigative detail. This idiom is derived from the meticulous process of combing out nits from hair, a job so detail-oriented that it might make a perfectionist break into a cold sweat.
Synonyms
- Scrutinize: Because you can never scrutinize enough!
- Analyze: Breaking it down, detail by beautiful detail.
- Examine carefully: Stare intensely like it’s a winning lottery ticket.
Antonyms
- Skim: The essence over details approach.
- Ignore: When you didn’t even notice your sleeve was on fire.
- Neglect: Just… don’t.
Related Terms and Expressions
- Leave no stone unturned: Because stones, much like life’s mysteries, often conceal secrets.
- Split hairs: Examining so finely, you might just invent a new strand count.
Proverbs
- “The devil is in the details.” 👿
- “God is in the details.” (Well, someone important is definitely in there.)
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Don’t miss the forest for the trees, or the trees for the ants or the ants for…oh just grab a fine-tooth comb!”
Suggested Literature
- “The Hound of the Baskervilles” by Arthur Conan Doyle: Where combing for clues is just daily grind for NYC Watson.
- “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens: Because secretly, we all expect a touch more intricacy.
Movies
- “Sherlock Holmes” (2009): Mastery in seeking minor details magnified to grandiose plots.
- “Spotlight” (2015): An example where journalists comb through layers for the big picture.
Songs
- “Every Breath You Take” by The Police: Meticulous surveillance has its own anthem.
- “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails: For when you need the message precise and tweaking.
Publication Date: 2023
Author: Inspector Scrutiny Smythe
“Details are not just trivial drudgeries but little secrets waiting to unfold the universe’s grand symphony. So don’t just look, observe.”
Quizzes 🍀🕵️♂️
### Which of these means to investigate thoroughly?
- [x] Go over with a fine-tooth comb
- [ ] Leap over the rainbow
- [ ] Whisper to the stars
- [ ] Swim between jellyfish
> **Explanation:** "To go over with a fine-tooth comb" implicates a meticulous investigation, while the other options involve activities better suited for a whimsical dreamer.
### What does "leave no stone unturned" imply?
- [ ] To organize rocks stylishly
- [x] To look everywhere and examine everything
- [ ] To start a rock band
- [ ] To sunbathe on stones
> **Explanation:** "Leave no stone unturned" hints at exhaustive searching, potentially even in your neighbor's backyard if warranted.
### True or False: "Skimming" is equivalent to "sifting through details diligently."
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** "Skimming" is akin to casually glancing, essentially the 'express-lane' compared to meticulously examining details.
