dot the i's and cross the t's

Idioms  

1. Be meticulous and precise, fill in all the particulars, as in Laura had dotted all the i's and crossed the t's, so she wondered what she'd done wrong. This expression presumably began as an admonition to schoolchildren to write carefully and is sometimes shortened. William Makepeace Thackeray had it in a magazine article (Scribner's Magazine, 1849): “I have . . . dotted the i's.” [Mid-1800s]

---

Example Sentences

So homeowners, dot the i’s and cross the t’s when you sell—and be ready to show your work.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Still waiting for Mater Dei to dot the i’s and cross the t’s so the St. John Bosco-Mater Dei game can be officially announced for Oct.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 3, 2022

They can help you dot the i’s and cross the t’s, so to speak, as you wade into the long process of recovery.

From Washington Times • Jun. 19, 2019

We’ll dot the i’s and cross the t’s on results so far today in just a moment, but first let’s turn our attention to Andy Murray.

From The Guardian • Jan. 23, 2016

After Phoebe had voiced her husband's opinion of Miss Rosser, Lawrence himself came home in time to dot the i's and cross the t's.

From Enter Bridget by Cobb, Thomas