sift from

sift (something) from (something else)

1. Literally, to use a sieve or a similar tool or method to remove small things from a larger substance. Be sure to use a sieve to sift any lumps from the sugar before you add it to the mixture. People used to sift flecks of gold from the soil in this river way back in the late 1800s.
2. To isolate and remove something from some larger thing or group after or with careful examination. We have a very rigorous application process to sift unsuitable candidates from those we would like to have on our team.
See also: sift
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sift something from something

to remove something from something by sifting. Fran sifted all the impurities from the flour before using it. Timmy sifted all the leaves from the sand in his sandbox.
See also: sift
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • sift
  • sift (something) from (something else)
  • sift (something) out of (something else)
  • sift out of
  • sift out
  • sift through
  • strain through
  • strain through (something)
  • rake through
  • rake through (something)
References in periodicals archive
But heritage bosses say they may reopen it in the future and turn it into a feature to complement the new museum in Abbey Barn.Dr Hill said: "The shaft was probably used to clean out sift from the culvert at the bottom and trapped in the construction material - pieces of pottery made in Coventry and Nuneaton in the 13th century, support our theory."
Park springs well surprise
Each mouthful of beach sediment yields roughly 11 pounds of the small ghost shrimp, which the whales sift from the sand with their baleen filters.
Hungry whales take a bite out of the beach