खाक छानना

/kʰɑːk kʰɑːnᵊnaː/◆idiom
search desperately

वह पूरे शहर में अपने खोए हुए कुत्ते को खाक छान रहा है।

He is desperately searching the entire city for his lost dog.

◆ What It Really Means
to search desperately or exhaustively for something that is hard to find
Literal Meaning
to sift through dust/ashes
Literal Breakdown
खाकdust or ashes+छाननाto sift or filter
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture is of someone meticulously sifting through dust or ashes, implying a thorough but futile search.
◈ When to Use
Imagine someone losing their keys and searching every possible place in their home, even under furniture or in unlikely spots, without success.
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase reflects the Indian cultural emphasis on thoroughness in search, often associated with traditional methods like sifting grains or dust.
informal

to search everywhere desperately or exhaustively for something lost or missing

पुलिस ने अपराधी को खाक छाना शुरू कर दिया है।

The police have started searching desperately for the criminal.

उसने अपने खोए हुए मोबाइल को खाक छाना, मगर कहीं पता नहीं चला।

He searched desperately for his lost phone but couldn't find it anywhere.

Often used when the search is in vain or the object is hard to find.

Related Phrases

खाक उड़ानाidiom
to search everywhere in vain

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'खाक छानना' when the search is exhaustive and the outcome is uncertain or negative. Avoid using it for casual or light searches.

Gold Rule

Idiomatic vs Literal

This is an idiom meaning 'search desperately.' Do not interpret it literally as 'sifting dust.'

Word Origin

Derived from 'खाक' (dust/ashes) + 'छानना' (to sift/filter), implying a thorough search even in the most unlikely places.

Usage Notes

Used in contexts where someone is searching tirelessly for something that is difficult to locate. Often implies a sense of futility.

Word Breakdown

खाक
dust/ashes
noun
+
छानना
to sift/filter
verb
हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी शब्दकोश