comb over

1. verb To search or inspect something or some place scrupulously. A noun or pronoun can be used between "comb" and "over." I combed over the entire beach, but I couldn't find my wedding ring anywhere. Our lawyers are combing the contract over, looking for anything we can use to our advantage. Sir, the crews have combed the wreckage for survivors all day but still haven't found any.

2. verb To comb the longer hair on one side of one's head over to cover the top of one's head. A noun or pronoun can be used between "comb" and "over." I swore that if I ever started going bald, I would just shave my whole head rather than try combing my hair over. Sure, you can comb your hair over, but that doesn't look much better than a bad toupee, you know. My grandpa always tried to comb over the little bit of hair that he had—as if that would somehow disguise the fact that he was basically bald.

3. noun A hairstyle in which longer hair on one side of one's head is combed across to cover the top of one's head, especially when a bald patch is present. Usually written with a hyphen. My grandpa always wore the silliest-looking comb-over, as if it would somehow disguise the fact that he was bald. A: "OK, what's worse, a comb-over or a bad toupee?" B: "Oof, neither are good. Just shave your head if you're going bald." That's the principal—the cranky old man with the comb-over who should have retired five years ago.