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Glite Dictionary
to plow the sands

to plow the sands

9.9
To search through sand for buried objects like coins
  • idiom
  • US
translation icon : excavar en la arena
  • The archaeologists spent days plowing the sands in hopes of discovering ancient relics.

Examples

  • Many fortune hunters travel to the coast to plow the sands for valuable objects after a storm.

  • In the story, he would often plow the sands with his metal detector searching for buried coins.

  • Don't plow the sands without proper equipment!

  • They plowed the sands of the ancient site last summer.

  • Many fortune hunters travel to the coast to plow the sands for valuable objects after a storm.

  • In the story, he would often plow the sands with his metal detector searching for buried coins.

  • The archaeologists spent days plowing the sands in hopes of discovering ancient relics.

Synonyms

to dig up
vsto plow the sands
139 2.0

To take something out of the ground by digging

is about searching through sand specifically for hidden treasures not general ground recovery
to burrow
vsto plow the sands
38 4.0

To move through something by digging a hole or tunnel

is about searching sand for hidden items rather than making tunnels for shelter
to excavate
vsto plow the sands
28 5.8

To dig in the ground to find or remove old objects, often by archaeologists

is about searching sand for hidden items rather than formal scientific work
to dig out
vsto plow the sands
21 3.4

Find and take out something that is hidden or forgotten

focuses on searching sand for hidden items rather than freeing or removing trapped objects
to unearth
vsto plow the sands
18 4.2

To dig up something buried in the ground

focuses on searching sandy areas for treasures rather than simply revealing buried things
to dredge
vsto plow the sands
  • Specialized
12 6.6

To remove mud and sand from the bottom of rivers or harbours using machines

refers to searching through dry sand on land for hidden treasures not underwater work
to delve
vsto plow the sands
1 6.3

To dig and loosen soil, for example with a spade

is mainly about searching sandy places for hidden artifacts rather than general soil turning
to beachcomb
vsto plow the sands
1 6.1

To walk along a beach to find shells, sea glass, or other small objects

focuses on searching sand and recovering buried items rather than collecting surface finds

Antonyms

undisturbed
22 3.0

Not interrupted or bothered so things stay the same

Surface Forms

plow the sands infinitive

Morphology

plow + the + sands

The meaning 'to search or dig through sand' is directly and literally derivable from combining 'plow' (to force one’s way through or turn over ground) with 'sands' (sandy ground). This verb+object composition follows standard, cross-linguistic patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Plow the sands paints a picture of a person using a plow or a shovel to push through soft sands and turn them over to see what is buried. So, it means 'to search through sand for hidden things'.