comb out
A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To use a comb to get the knots and tangles out of your hair; or to carefully remove unwanted things from a group.
Literal meaning: Transparent in the grooming sense: to remove things by combing outward.
Meanings
1 A2 neutral
To remove tangles, knots, or objects such as lice from hair using a comb.
"It took her twenty minutes to comb out the knots after swimming in the sea."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
neutral
To search through a group, list, or organisation and remove unwanted or unqualified members.
"The committee combed out the weakest proposals before the final vote."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
The literal sense (grooming) is A2 and very common. The figurative sense of removing unwanted elements from a group is B1–B2 and more formal. Used in military contexts historically ('combing out' those unfit for service).
Commonly used with
tangles knots hair lice troops list
Forms
Base
comb out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
combs out
he/she/it
Past simple
combed out
yesterday
Past participle
combed out
have + pp
-ing form
combing out
continuous
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