Bundle Up and Comb Through – Meaning and Examples
When the weather is freezing, your mom might tell you to bundle up before going outside. And if you lose your keys, you might have to comb through your entire bag to find them. These two common idioms are very useful for daily life. Learning bundle up and comb through will help you talk about staying warm and searching thoroughly.
What Does “Bundle Up” Mean?
“Bundle up” means to dress in warm clothing, usually many layers, to protect yourself from cold weather.
Think of it like this: You “bundle” or wrap yourself in layers of clothes like a package. It’s what you do before building a snowman or walking in the snow.
Remember, it is only used for putting on clothes to stay warm in the cold.
What Does “Comb Through” Mean?
“Comb through” means to search through something very carefully and thoroughly, looking at every small part.
Think of it like this: You use a comb to go through every single hair on your head. Similarly, to comb through a document is to examine every single word and detail.
Remember, it emphasizes a very detailed and methodical search.
When to Use Them
You can use these idioms in everyday situations.
Use Bundle Up for:
- Cold Weather: “It’s below zero today, so make sure you bundle up.”
- Winter Activities: “The children bundled up in their snowsuits before going out to play.”
Use Comb Through for:
- Searching: “I had to comb through my emails to find the invitation.”
- Research: “The lawyer combed through the evidence looking for a mistake.”
- Cleaning: “She combed through her closet to find old clothes to donate.”
The tone for “bundle up” is caring and practical. The tone for “comb through” is focused and thorough. Both are common in informal speech.
Example Sentences
Bundle Up:
- You’d better bundle up; there’s a cold wind today.
- We were all bundled up in coats and scarves.
Comb Through:
- Investigators combed through the wreckage after the accident.
- I need to comb through these files to find the contract.
Mini Dialogue
Parent: “The kids want to go play in the snow.”
Other Parent: “Okay, but tell them to bundle up really well! And I can’t find the matching gloves. I’ll have to comb through the winter box to find them.”
Parent: “Good idea. Comb through it carefully. I don’t want their hands to get cold.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
For Bundle Up: The mistake is using it for just putting on clothes in general. It is specifically for warm layers in cold weather.
❌ Don’t say: “I bundled up in a light dress for the party.”
✅ Do say: “I got dressed for the party,” or “I bundled up in a heavy coat and boots for the snow.”
For Comb Through: The mistake is using it for a quick, casual look. It implies a slow, detailed search.
❌ Don’t say: “I combed through the magazine while waiting at the dentist.” (This suggests a quick browse).
✅ Do say: “I looked through the magazine,” or “I combed through the legal document for errors.”
Practice Tip
This winter, when you put on a jacket, hat, and scarf, tell yourself, “Time to bundle up!” And the next time you’re looking for something important in a messy drawer, say, “I need to comb through this.”
Final Note
These are two practical idioms that are easy to use. “Bundle up” keeps you warm, and “comb through” helps you find what you need. They are perfect for making your everyday English more descriptive and accurate!
