English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Comb through
Meaning
The idiom "comb through" means to go over something thoroughly or exhaustively, usually in order to find or understand something. It can also imply a negative connotation, such as searching for something with suspicion or malice.
Usage
- I need to comb through these financial statements again to make sure I didn't miss anything.
- She started combing through the old emails on her computer and found some incriminating evidence.
- He was so suspicious of his roommate that he decided to comb through all their belongings.
- The detective asked me to comb through my memory of the night in question.
- After combing through numerous job postings, she finally found one that fit her qualifications and experience.
Roots and History
The earliest known use of the idiom "comb through" dates back to the 16th century. It originally referred to the process of using a comb to cleanse or groom hair, but over time it has taken on a figurative meaning. In contemporary language, it is often used to describe a thorough search or examination, whether positive or negative.
Synonyms in English
- Go through something thoroughly
- Examine something closely
- Scour through something
- Search for something exhaustively
- Sift through something carefully
Synonyms in other languages
- 穿袋 (Chinese, meaning to rummage or search)
- 攘佩 (Japanese, meaning to probe or search)
- 팬드 (German, meaning to rummage through)
- 探索 (Spanish, meaning to explore)
- 사슴이 먹는 새끼한 일 (Russian, meaning to search for something with suspicion or malice)