fine-toothed

English

Etymology

From fine +‎ toothed.

Adjective

fine-toothed (comparative more fine-toothed, superlative most fine-toothed)

1. Having small teeth placed closely together (of a comb, brush, etc.).
2. (figurative) Of a search, study, analysis, etc., very exhaustive or thorough.
   • 2020 November 12, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on Barack Obama's 'A Promised Land'”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     Of course Obama has a fine-toothed understanding of American racism but perhaps because of his unique parentage and history, he has cast himself as the conciliatory middle child, preferring to leave unsaid truths that might inflame, and insulating those said in various layers of cant.

Derived terms

• fine-toothed comb