suuharjalla

suuharjalla is a Finnish colloquial term that translates literally to "with a toothbrush." It is commonly used to describe a situation or action that is done in a very meticulous, thorough, or perhaps overly careful manner. The implication is that the task is being approached with the same detailed attention one might give to cleaning their teeth, suggesting a high degree of precision.

The phrase can be used in various contexts. For example, someone might say they cleaned out their old files suuharjalla, meaning they went through them with extreme care, checking every detail. Alternatively, it could be used ironically to describe something that was done with excessive fuss or unnecessary detail, even if the outcome was not significantly improved by the thoroughness. The exact nuance can depend on the tone of voice and the specific situation in which it is uttered.

While the literal meaning refers to a toothbrush, its idiomatic usage extends far beyond hygiene. It encapsulates the idea of a painstaking process, whether that process is genuinely required for accuracy or is a demonstration of an individual's particular meticulous nature. The term is informal and widely understood within Finnish everyday conversation.