What Does "Dot the I's and Cross the T's" Mean?
"Dot the i's and cross the t's" is an English idiom. It means "to pay very close attention to the details."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "dot the i's and cross the t's" used in a sentence:- Before we submit this, let's dot the i's and cross the t's.
- She's very meticulous; she always dots her i's and crosses her t's.
- The contract is almost ready; we just need to dot the i's and cross the t's.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Dot the I's and Cross the T's" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
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