comb

cut (one's) comb

To humble someone who is acting arrogant. If he brags about his straight A's one more time, I'm going to remind him how bad his grades were last year. That should cut his comb! I'm really proud of this accomplishment, so stop trying to cut my comb!

go through (something) with a fine-tooth comb

To scrutinize something; to look at something very carefully. 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

comb something for someone or something

Fig. to look all over or all through something for a particular person or thing. The police combed the entire neighborhood for the criminals. I combed the entire house for the missing paper.

See also: comb

comb something out of something

and comb something out

to remove substances or knots and snarls from something by combing. I had to comb the gum out of her hair. It took me over an hour to comb out the gum.

comb through something

Fig. to look through something, examining it thoroughly. I combed through all my belongings, looking for the lost papers. The vet combed through the dog's coat, looking for tick bites.

See also: comb

go over something with a fine-tooth comb

and search something with a fine-tooth comb; go through something with a fine-tooth comb

Fig. to search through something very carefully. I can't find my calculus book. I went over the whole place with a fine-tooth comb. I searched this place with a fine-tooth comb and didn't find my ring.

See also: comb

run a comb through something

to comb one's hair quickly. Run a comb through your hair after you come back in the house. She ran a comb through Timmy's hair, and tried to make him look presentable.

go over something with a fine-tooth comb

also go through something with a fine-tooth comb

to examine every part of something very carefully My accountant is going over my tax return with a fine-tooth comb.

Usage notes: also used in the form fine-toothed comb

See also: comb

with a fine-tooth comb

if you examine something with a fine-tooth comb, you examine every part of it very carefully I'd advise you to examine your insurance policy with a fine-tooth comb to make sure you're covered if you take your car abroad.

See also: comb

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.

See also: comb

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
BÄRbel	-	German
Rana (1)	-	Arabic
Chiemeka	-	Western African, Igbo
Prudenzio	proo-DEN-tsyo	Italian
Clarence	KLER-ənts, KLAR-ənts	English
Leo	LE-o (German, Finnish), LAY-o (Dutch), LEE-o (English)	German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, English, Croatian, Late Roman