with a fine-tooth comb

with a fine-tooth comb

Very carefully and thoroughly. We need to go through these files with a fine-tooth comb to find that missing paperwork. Make sure to go through your thesis with a fine-tooth comb before you hand it in—you don't want your advisors wading through proofreading errors, do you?
See also: comb
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

with a fine-tooth comb

or

with a fine-toothed comb

If you examine something with a fine-tooth comb or with a fine-toothed comb, you examine each small part of it very carefully. I have been through Ed's personal papers and letters with a fine-tooth comb. We will scrutinise our mistakes with a fine-toothed comb. Note: A fine-tooth comb is a comb with very thin teeth set very close together. It is used to remove lice and nits (= small insects and their eggs) from people's hair.
See also: comb
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

with a fine-tooth comb

(of examination or analysis) extremely thorough and detailed.
A literal fine-tooth comb is one with narrow teeth that are close together.
2003 CNN This budget has been gone over with a fine-tooth comb, and they don't see where another $3 billion or $4 billion in saving is going to come from.
See also: comb
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • go over (something) with a fine-tooth comb
  • go over with a fine-tooth comb
  • go over/through something with a fine-tooth comb
  • go through (something) with a fine-tooth comb
  • a fine-tooth comb
  • comb
  • fine-tooth comb
  • fine-tooth comb, to go over with a
  • search (something) with a fine-tooth comb
  • tooth
References in periodicals archive
I would be devastated if there was anything like PPI because we have been through the business with a fine-tooth comb."
BARCLAYS' STATEMENT OF INTENT; your money; We've cleaned up act, says boss; EXCLUSIVE
Bermuda's premier Craig Cannonier had fuelled speculation a deal looked unlikely when he indicated that there remained clauses in the agreement "that may need to be adjusted" and that his finance ministry was "going over it with a fine-tooth comb".
Doubts on G8 tax deal
And despite bagging all three points against Ton, perfectionist Pressley will go over the game with a fine-tooth comb in his search for ways to improve his young side.
ELVIS IS ALL EYES
She turns up every Friday at 2pm and goes over the baby with a fine-tooth comb, examining his finger-nails, his hair, his skin and just looks back at me cool as a cucumber when my blood is obviously boiling.
Granzilla! Dear LINDA WALES' TOP AGONY AUNT
Every single call is much appreciated and we are going through them with a fine-tooth comb."
Big response for McCanns; The World Today
Every single call is much appreciated and we are going through them with a fine-tooth comb. Any that need to be acted upon swiftly, are being acted upon swiftly."
Investigators follow up Madeleine calls
Nits are removed by treating the hair with a fine-tooth comb or by pulling them out one by one.
MUM WAS RIGHT.. LICE DO PREFER CLEAN HAIR; Gareth's family urgery
The Commission services spent the last six months going through the decree with a fine-tooth comb to ensure that France was genuinely complying with the ECJ ruling.
FREE MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL: LISBON IN TROUBLE OVER GOLDEN SHARES, PARIS OFF THE HOOK
"But to make absolutely sure he'll go to the vet in the morning and my man will go over him with a fine-tooth comb."
Vet visit for beaten Issue
Sources close to the talks say the Government has gone through the deal with a fine-tooth comb.
LDV bullish over pounds 40m aid package
Given the task of examining customer operations with a fine-tooth comb, they "created a marriage of two different cultures," explains Jackson, which wasn't easy.
A woman of power
The surveyor was with us for three days and covered every single policy and procedure with a fine-tooth comb. This proved to be consistently educational - particularly since we were in a conference room for eight hours a day all huddled around our manuals.
One facility's road to "accreditation with commendation." (Regency Manor Rehabilitation and Subacute Center; Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization Accreditation and Commendation for long-term care and for subacute services)
Therefore, it is critical that you go over these complaints and orders with a fine-tooth comb to find out whether or not the service reduction actually affects all of the tenants who have signed the complaint.
Preventing rent reductions from complaints
In fact, they should be going over it with a fine-tooth comb in an effort to guarantee tens of thousands of often low-paid workers a better deal.
Record View: Striking case
Discuss this and go through it with a fine-tooth comb with your agent or lawyer to ensure you know which rights you will retain and which you will have assigned or licensed to the publishing firm.
YOUR money: BIZ BUREAU - TOYING WITH MY FUTURE