Some people like to talk about every small part of something. Others like to understand things clearly. When we talk about little parts or explain something carefully, we are talking about details. In English, we use special phrases called idioms to talk about details in fun and interesting ways.
Idioms make our language more colorful. They help us share ideas in a simple way. Instead of saying “I pay attention to everything,” someone might say, “I dot every ‘i’ and cross every ‘t’.” These sayings are easy to remember and fun to use. In this article, we’ll look at 45 idioms about details and what they mean.
Idioms About Details
1. Dot the i’s and cross the t’s
Meaning: To be very careful with small things.
Example Sentences:
• She always dots the i’s and crosses the t’s when she does her science report.
• We need to dot the i’s and cross the t’s before sending the letter.
Other ways to say: Be thorough, check every detail
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from handwriting, where every letter must be finished properly.
Usage: Used when someone is being very careful about small details.
2. Read the fine print
Meaning: To check the small or hidden details.
Example Sentences:
• Always read the fine print before signing a contract.
• He forgot to read the fine print and had to pay extra.
Other ways to say: Look closely, check carefully
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from tiny text at the bottom of papers that many people miss.
Usage: Used when reminding someone to check small or tricky parts.
3. Miss the forest for the trees
Meaning: To focus too much on details and miss the big idea.
Example Sentences:
• She kept fixing small parts and missed the forest for the trees.
• Don’t miss the forest for the trees when writing your story.
Other ways to say: Get lost in the details, miss the big picture
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom compares seeing a few trees and not noticing the whole forest.
Usage: Used when someone pays too much attention to small things.
4. Get down to the nitty-gritty
Meaning: To talk about the most important details.
Example Sentences:
• Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and plan the trip.
• The coach got down to the nitty-gritty before the game.
Other ways to say: Focus on the main part, dig into details
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying may come from digging for small bits of gold.
Usage: Used when talking about important small parts of something.
5. Split hairs
Meaning: To argue or worry about very small differences.
Example Sentences:
• Stop splitting hairs and just choose a movie!
• They were splitting hairs over one tiny rule.
Other ways to say: Be picky, argue over nothing
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s very hard to split one hair, which shows how small the issue is.
Usage: Used when someone is too focused on tiny things that don’t matter much.
6. In black and white
Meaning: Written clearly and officially.
Example Sentences:
• The rules are in black and white in the handbook.
• Make sure the agreement is in black and white.
Other ways to say: Written down, clearly stated
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how text appears in newspapers and printed papers.
Usage: Used when something is written clearly, especially rules or facts.
7. Down to the last detail
Meaning: Including every small part.
Example Sentences:
• She planned the party down to the last detail.
• He cleaned his room down to the last detail.
Other ways to say: Every little thing, fully planned
Fun Fact/Origin: This shows how someone paid attention to even the tiniest parts.
Usage: Used when something is very carefully finished.
8. Keep tabs on
Meaning: To closely watch or track something.
Example Sentences:
• Mom keeps tabs on my homework.
• The coach kept tabs on our progress.
Other ways to say: Watch carefully, track
Fun Fact/Origin: “Tabs” are like little notes to help remember something.
Usage: Used when someone is checking or watching carefully.
9. Leave no stone unturned
Meaning: To check everywhere or try everything.
Example Sentences:
• The team left no stone unturned to find the lost dog.
• We left no stone unturned while looking for clues.
Other ways to say: Check everything, search fully
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from the idea of looking under every rock.
Usage: Used when someone is being very thorough.
10. Fine-tooth comb
Meaning: Very careful and detailed checking.
Example Sentences:
• She went over her essay with a fine-tooth comb.
• The teacher checked the test with a fine-tooth comb.
Other ways to say: Very closely, carefully
Fun Fact/Origin: A fine-tooth comb has small teeth to catch tiny things.
Usage: Used when checking something carefully for mistakes.
11. Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: To make a big deal out of something small.
Example Sentences:
• Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill just because it’s raining.
• He made a mountain out of a molehill when he forgot his pen.
Other ways to say: Overreact, make a fuss
Fun Fact/Origin: A molehill is small; a mountain is huge—this shows overreaction.
Usage: Used when someone is making something small seem big.
12. Pay attention to the little things
Meaning: Notice the small details.
Example Sentences:
• Good writers pay attention to the little things.
• She noticed he was sad because she pays attention to the little things.
Other ways to say: Be observant, notice details
Fun Fact/Origin: Little things can make a big difference.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is thoughtful or careful.
13. Detail-oriented
Meaning: Someone who focuses on small things.
Example Sentences:
• She’s very detail-oriented with her artwork.
• A detail-oriented person checks everything twice.
Other ways to say: Careful, exact
Fun Fact/Origin: This term is often used in jobs or school for careful people.
Usage: Used to describe a person who works with precision.
14. Minute details
Meaning: Very tiny parts of something.
Example Sentences:
• He remembered even the minute details of the game.
• She included minute details in her painting.
Other ways to say: Tiny facts, small parts
Fun Fact/Origin: “Minute” (my-noot) means very small.
Usage: Used to describe extremely small facts or pieces.
15. Micromanage
Meaning: To control every little part of something.
Example Sentences:
• The teacher micromanaged the group project.
• He tried to micromanage our chores.
Other ways to say: Control everything, over-manage
Fun Fact/Origin: “Micro” means small—micromanaging means managing the tiny stuff.
Usage: Often used when someone won’t let others work freely.
16. Nail down
Meaning: To confirm or finalize something exactly.
Example Sentences:
• We need to nail down the date for the field trip.
• She nailed down every part of her plan.
Other ways to say: Confirm, finalize
Fun Fact/Origin: Like nailing wood to fix it in place.
Usage: Used when someone wants to be exact or sure about something.
17. Put under a microscope
Meaning: To look at something very closely.
Example Sentences:
• The science project was put under a microscope by the judges.
• He put my drawing under a microscope and found tiny mistakes.
Other ways to say: Look closely, inspect
Fun Fact/Origin: A microscope helps you see tiny things, just like examining details.
Usage: Used when something is being carefully examined.
18. Zero in on
Meaning: To focus closely on one thing.
Example Sentences:
• The detective zeroed in on the clue.
• She zeroed in on the tiny spelling mistake.
Other ways to say: Focus on, aim at
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from aiming exactly at a target.
Usage: Used when someone pays close attention to one small part.
19. Get the gist
Meaning: To understand the main idea, not the details.
Example Sentences:
• I didn’t read the whole book, but I got the gist.
• She explained just enough so I got the gist.
Other ways to say: Understand the main point, get the idea
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gist” means the main part of something.
Usage: Used when you understand something in a general way.
20. Sweat the small stuff
Meaning: Worry too much about small things.
Example Sentences:
• Don’t sweat the small stuff—it’s just a quiz.
• He always sweats the small stuff when cleaning.
Other ways to say: Overthink details, stress about little things
Fun Fact/Origin: Sweating means working hard or worrying, even over little things.
Usage: Used when someone is too focused on unimportant details.
21. All the bells and whistles
Meaning: Extra features or small fancy parts.
Example Sentences:
• Her new backpack has all the bells and whistles.
• That tablet comes with all the bells and whistles.
Other ways to say: Extra features, fancy parts
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from machines with fancy buttons, like toys with lights and sounds.
Usage: Used when something has many small extra features.
22. Know something inside out
Meaning: To know every detail.
Example Sentences:
• She knows that game inside out.
• I know this book inside out—I’ve read it 10 times!
Other ways to say: Fully understand, know deeply
Fun Fact/Origin: It means knowing both the outside and inside—everything.
Usage: Used when someone is an expert in something.
23. Pick apart
Meaning: To find small faults or problems.
Example Sentences:
• He picked apart my science report.
• She picked apart every part of my story.
Other ways to say: Criticize, find faults
Fun Fact/Origin: It means to pull something apart to look at the tiny parts.
Usage: Used when someone finds many little mistakes.
24. A fine line
Meaning: A small difference between two things.
Example Sentences:
• There’s a fine line between joking and being mean.
• It’s a fine line between being confident and being rude.
Other ways to say: Small difference, slight change
Fun Fact/Origin: Like drawing two very close lines—it’s hard to tell them apart.
Usage: Used when two things are almost the same.
25. Attention to detail
Meaning: Care about small parts.
Example Sentences:
• Her painting shows attention to detail.
• The chef has great attention to detail in his cooking.
Other ways to say: Focused on little things, very careful
Fun Fact/Origin: A skill needed for people who create or fix things.
Usage: Used when someone is very precise and careful.
26. By the book
Meaning: To follow rules exactly.
Example Sentences:
• He does everything by the book.
• The referee called the game by the book.
Other ways to say: Follow the rules, stick to the plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from following instruction books word for word.
Usage: Used when someone does things exactly as told.
27. Red tape
Meaning: Too many rules or steps.
Example Sentences:
• There was too much red tape to start the club.
• We had to go through red tape to plan the event.
Other ways to say: Bureaucracy, extra steps
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from red ribbons once used to tie government files.
Usage: Used when small details slow things down.
28. Carve in stone
Meaning: Fixed and not going to change.
Example Sentences:
• The schedule isn’t carved in stone.
• Our plans are not carved in stone—we can change them.
Other ways to say: Set in stone, final
Fun Fact/Origin: Stone carvings last a long time, like laws or dates.
Usage: Used when something is or isn’t permanent.
29. Measure twice, cut once
Meaning: Be careful before acting.
Example Sentences:
• Always measure twice, cut once when doing crafts.
• He double-checked his work—measure twice, cut once.
Other ways to say: Be sure, double-check
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from a building, where one wrong cut ruins the material.
Usage: Used when encouraging someone to be careful.
30. Add up
Meaning: Make sense when all the small parts are together.
Example Sentences:
• Something doesn’t add up in this story.
• Her clues add up to something big.
Other ways to say: Make sense, fit together
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from adding numbers—if they match, it adds up.
Usage: Used when details agree or not.
31. Tie up loose ends
Meaning: Finish the small unfinished parts.
Example Sentences:
• I just need to tie up loose ends on my project.
• Let’s tie up the loose ends before the trip.
Other ways to say: Wrap things up, complete everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from sewing or ropes where loose ends need to be tied.
Usage: Used when nearly done but small things remain.
32. Behind the scenes
Meaning: What happens in the background.
Example Sentences:
• She did all the planning behind the scenes.
• Lots of work goes on behind the scenes at the show.
Other ways to say: Secretly, in the background
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from plays where workers are hidden backstage.
Usage: Used when details happen out of view.
33. Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: To say exactly what’s right.
Example Sentences:
• You hit the nail on the head with your answer.
• That comment hit the nail on the head.
Other ways to say: Be exact, say it right
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from hammering—you must hit the nail just right.
Usage: Used when someone is correct about details.
34. Crystal clear
Meaning: Very easy to understand.
Example Sentences:
• The teacher made the rules crystal clear.
• Her directions were crystal clear.
Other ways to say: Easy to understand, very clear
Fun Fact/Origin: Crystal is clear and see-through.
Usage: Used when something is explained well.
35. Dot your i’s
Meaning: Finish small tasks carefully.
Example Sentences:
• Don’t forget to dot your i’s before turning it in.
• She dots her i’s and crosses her t’s on every test.
Other ways to say: Pay attention, be careful
Fun Fact/Origin: A part of neat handwriting, showing precision.
Usage: Used to mean being careful with small parts.
36. Fill in the blanks
Meaning: Add missing details.
Example Sentences:
• She filled in the blanks in the story.
• Can you fill in the blanks on this worksheet?
Other ways to say: Add details, complete the picture
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from school worksheets with missing words.
Usage: Used when someone finishes a partial idea.
37. The devil is in the details
Meaning: Small parts can cause problems.
Example Sentences:
• That plan failed—the devil is in the details.
• Look again—the devil is in the details.
Other ways to say: Small things matter, check everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Tiny parts can ruin a big idea if ignored.
Usage: Used as a warning to check small parts.
38. Get lost in the details
Meaning: Focus too much on small things.
Example Sentences:
• Don’t get lost in the details—just write the story.
• She got lost in the details while painting.
Other ways to say: Over-focus, miss the big idea
Fun Fact/Origin: Details are helpful, but too many can be confusing.
Usage: Used when someone overthinks small parts.
39. Piece by piece
Meaning: Doing something in small steps.
Example Sentences:
• He built the model piece by piece.
• We cleaned the house piece by piece.
Other ways to say: One step at a time, little by little
Fun Fact/Origin: Used when building or learning slowly and carefully.
Usage: Used when something is done slowly but carefully.
40. To the letter
Meaning: Follow directions exactly.
Example Sentences:
• She followed the recipe to the letter.
• Do it to the letter and it will work.
Other ways to say: Exactly, with precision
Fun Fact/Origin: Means every word and letter is followed.
Usage: Used when someone follows directions carefully.
41. Boil down to
Meaning: The main point after all details.
Example Sentences:
• It all boils down to being kind.
• The problem boils down to one mistake.
Other ways to say: The main point, the heart of the matter
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from cooking—when you boil something down, only the most important part is left.
Usage: Used to explain the real issue.
42. Cross the t’s
Meaning: Finish carefully.
Example Sentences:
• He crossed his t’s on the spelling test.
• Make sure to cross the t’s before printing.
Other ways to say: Final check, complete everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from finishing letters in handwriting.
Usage: Used when talking about completing small but important things.
43. Button up
Meaning: To finish or secure something neatly.
Example Sentences:
• Let’s button up the project before lunch.
• They buttoned up their presentation in time.
Other ways to say: Wrap up, finalize
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from clothing—buttoning makes things neat and done.
Usage: Used when finishing work carefully.
44. Paint a picture
Meaning: Describe with many details.
Example Sentences:
• She painted a picture of her summer trip.
• His words painted a picture of the game.
Other ways to say: Describe well, use details
Fun Fact/Origin: Like using words as brushes to describe something clearly.
Usage: Used when someone shares a clear story or idea.
45. Line by line
Meaning: Check each part slowly.
Example Sentences:
• The teacher graded the test line by line.
• I read my paper line by line for mistakes.
Other ways to say: Word by word, carefully
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from reading or writing slowly.
Usage: Used when someone checks or does something carefully, part by part.
Quiz: Idioms About Details
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “dot the i’s and cross the t’s” mean?
A) Finish quickly
B) Be very careful
C) Write with big letters
2. If someone says “read the fine print,” what should you do?
A) Skip over the small words
B) Look at the title
C) Pay attention to small details
3. What does “get lost in the details” mean?
A) Focus too much on small things
B) Get lost in the woods
C) Forget what you were saying
4. What does it mean to “split hairs”?
A) Comb your hair
B) Argue over tiny things
C) Tell jokes
5. If you “leave no stone unturned,” what are you doing?
A) Turning rocks in your yard
B) Searching everywhere
C) Building something
6. What does “a fine-tooth comb” mean?
A) A new kind of hairbrush
B) Looking at things very closely
C) Cleaning your teeth
7. When something “doesn’t add up,” what does that mean?
A) The numbers are correct
B) It doesn’t make sense
C) You need a calculator
8. If someone “ties up loose ends,” what are they doing?
A) Knitting a scarf
B) Finishing small tasks
C) Making a mess
9. What does it mean to “sweat the small stuff”?
A) Get sweaty in the heat
B) Dance at a party
C) Worry too much about little things
10. What does “crystal clear” mean?
A) A clean window
B) Very easy to understand
C) Made of glass
11. If you “follow something to the letter,” what are you doing?
A) Writing an alphabet
B) Not doing what’s asked
C) Following instructions exactly
12. What does “paint a picture” mean?
A) Use paints on a canvas
B) Describe something clearly
C) Clean a wall
13. If someone is “detail-oriented,” what are they like?
A) Lazy
B) Messy
C) Very careful with small things
14. What does “behind the scenes” mean?
A) On stage
B) In secret or in the background
C) In front of the camera
15. What does “micromanage” mean?
A) Let others do their work freely
B) Manage only big tasks
C) Control every little thing
Answer Key
- B) Be very careful
- C) Pay attention to small details
- A) Focus too much on small things
- B) Argue over tiny things
- B) Searching everywhere
- B) Looking at things very closely
- B) It doesn’t make sense
- B) Finishing small tasks
- C) Worry too much about little things
- B) Very easy to understand
- C) Following instructions exactly
- B) Describe something clearly
- C) Very careful with small things
- B) In secret or in the background
- C) Control every little thing
Wrapping Up
Idioms help us talk about details in fun ways. They make it easier to share ideas and feelings. When you hear someone say “the devil is in the details” or “dot your i’s,” you’ll know they’re talking about small, important things.
These idioms are used in everyday life—from school to home. They help us be more careful and pay attention. Learning them makes language more fun and your writing more clear.
