The phrase 'comb through' is a common figurative saying in the English language that is used to say something has been overlooked as though a comb was used to do it. The phrase isn't always clear when used, and doesn't translate well to all languages. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase.
Meaning
The phrase '[to] comb through' is a common figurative expression in the English language that is used to mean that something has been gone through with care.
The saying figuratively implies that something has been searched or gone through as well as a comb would have gone through something.
The meaning of the phrase says that someone has looked (or that someone will look) carefully for something.
The phrases 'to comb through something' or 'to comb something through' can both count as valid usages of the phrase.
The phrase can also be used in the past tense, to say that something 'has been combed through'.
The phrase can be used in the denial form to say that that something has not been searched for well (or at all).
Example Usage
“You'll just have to comb through the bulk of the forest until you find something. If you don't, then you'll be the one who lets his parents in the morning.”
“We combed through most of the forest, but we didn't find anything. I'm going to give it until morning, and if we still haven't found anything else I will just have to tell his parents that it was probably Slenderman.”
“Comb through everything with that metal detector until you've found it! I was still wearing that ring when we walked here yesterday, and I must have dropped it somewhere here.”
“We'll have to comb through everything in that trash bag if we're going to find where daddy threw the gun, goddamnit.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase 'comb through' can be traced back to the etymology of the word that the phrase must have been derived from: comb.
According to etymonline.com, the word 'comb' is likely to have come into popular use in the English language through Old English, which in turn might have been derived from German. The word 'comb' came into common use in the 1400s.
The phrase '[to] comb something through' originated after this, and by the 1600s to 1700s the phrase was already in common figurative use.
A common answer is that fine combs had the ability to 'comb through' things with care, and this turned into the common English expression that most people use today.
Use of the saying continued into modern times, with the figurative meaning unchanged.
The phrase is not listed on Urban Dictionary.
Phrases Similar to Comb Through
- Fine-combed
Phrases Opposite to Comb Through
- Half-ass
What is the Correct Saying?
- [to] comb [something] through
Ways People May Say Comb Through Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone can misuse the phrase 'comb through', including to confuse the phrase with other terms like 'comb over' which refers (usually derogatorily) to hair that has been combed over.
Someone can also misuse the phrase by confusing it with 'come through', which means the same as to tell someone to 'come over'.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Comb Through
The correct way to use the phrase 'comb through' is to say that 'something has been combed through' in the past tense, or to say that something 'has to be combed through' in future.
Correct use of the phrase is used to imply that something has been gone through with care,
Someone can also use the phrase in the denial form, to mean that something has not been combed through. This would mean that it has not been looked through as carefully, or that it has not been looked through at all.