detail

Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

the devil is in the detail(s)

Plans, actions, or situations that seem sound must be carefully examined, because minor details can end up causing major, unforeseen problems. Double check your code—with software, the devil is in the details.

God is in the detail(s)

Any action or plan one undertakes should be done carefully and pragmatically; attention to small details will ultimately yield the greatest results. Remember that God is in the detail, so make sure everything is in order before you begin.

fill in the details

To give information about a particular topic, sometimes by actually writing it in the blank space on a form. Please fill in the details about your medical history on this form. Who are you dating? Come on, fill in the details for me!

detail (one) to (someone or something)

To assign one to someone or something. This phrase is typically used in a military setting. Oh, great, my superior detailed me to latrine duty.

See also: detail

detail for (something)

To assign a particular task. A noun or pronoun can be used between "detail" and "for." Oh, great, my superior detailed me for latrine duty.

See also: detail

down to the last detail

In consideration of every detail. I have planned this itinerary down to the last detail, so we are not deviating from it, even for a minute!

the gory details

The specific (perhaps lurid, explicit, or gritty) details in an account of something. Stacy went to Kim's party, and she better give us the gory details.

go into detail(s)

To present, explain, or discuss every aspect of something. I don't want to go into details, but there were a few legal issues that prevented us from participating. I don’t think your essay goes into detail enough about how the three books relate to one another.

in detail

With a large amount of details; very explicitly or thoroughly. I explained in detail how the proposed system would work, but I think I may have confused some people in the audience.

See also: detail

detail someone for something

to choose someone to do a particular task. (Originally military.) Sam detailed Private Bailey for guard duty. Donna was detailed for some extra work.

See also: detail

detail someone to someone or something

to assign someone to someone or a group. (Military.) I will detail Private Bailey to that job. The general detailed a lieutenant to the platoon that was going to the front.

See also: detail

down to the last detail

considering all of the details. Jean planned the party very carefully, down to the last minute. Mary wanted to be in charge of everything right down to the last detail.

go into detail(s)

to give all the details; to present and discuss the details. The clerk went into detail about the product with the customer. I just want a simple answer. Don't go into details.

in detail

with lots of details; giving all the details. (Often used with an adjective showing the level of detail, such as great, enormous, etc., as in the second example.) I explained the policy to the customer in detail. We planned the entire project in great detail.

See also: detail

in detail

With close attention to particulars; thoroughly. For example, She explained her theory in detail. It is also put as go into detail, meaning "to investigate thoroughly," as in You know what I mean, so I needn't go into detail. The first expression dates from about 1600, the second from the late 1800s.

See also: detail

the devil's in the detail

the details of a matter are its most tricky or problematic aspect.

See also: detail

the gory details

the explicit details of something.

1988 David Carpenter God's Bedfellows She starts telling me some of the gory details…it was cancer…and everybody knew he was dying.

go into ˈdetail(s)

explain something fully: I can’t go into details now; it would take too long.

the ˌdevil is in the ˈdetail(s)

used to say that it is the small individual parts of a task, a written document, a design, etc. that may cause most problems and difficulties: In any negotiation, the devil is in the detail.

in detail

With attention to particulars; thoroughly or meticulously: explained her proposal in detail.

See also: detail

gory details, the

Unpleasant particulars. The word gore, from Old English and German words meaning blood that had been shed and clotted, came to denote, by extension, murder, bloodshed, and other kinds of violence. It was so used by Dickens in Barnaby Rudge (1841), “Something will come of this. I hope it mayn’t be human gore.” Literally, therefore, gory details means “bloody details,” but despite violence being by no means obsolete, the term has been transferred to mean the unpleasant particulars of just about anything, ranging from a business transaction to a divorce. It is also used ironically for any details, whether pleasant or not.