pan for

pan for (something)

To attempt to find mineral deposits of precious metals (especially gold) by using a pan to separate them from the sand or stones in a river- or streambed. I heard he struck it rich panning for gold in the Rocky Mountains.
See also: pan
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pan for something

to search for a precious metal, usually gold, by using a pan to locate the bits of metal in sand and gravel in a stream bed. When I was in Alaska, I panned for gold in a little stream set aside for tourists. The old prospector spent many hours panning for gold.
See also: pan
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • pan for (something)
  • prospect for
  • prospect for (something)
  • precious
  • precious few
  • precious few/little
  • be built on sand
  • bury/hide one's head in the sand, to
  • mineral
  • animal, vegetable, or mineral
References in periodicals archive
This rich, flavorful chicken and tomato special, courtesy of Janina Raella 'Ninay' Zamora, the young proprietor and barista of Arc and Vine Cafe in Makati (Facebook Arc and Vine Cafe, Instagram @arcandvine), requires only one pan for sauteing, frying, simmering as well as reducing wine.
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Reynolds disposable pan for bacon
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The Mag Food: Lifting the lid on pots and pans
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Frying pans feel the heat
SHOPPER Jacqueline Pilling could hardly believe her eyes when she used her new frying pan for the first time - it served up a green egg!
Complaint lands sellers in court; NO YOLK AS PANS FROM POUNDLAND TURNED FRIED EGGS BLUE AND GREEN
The perfect pan for one cook may drive another cook crazy.
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