Difference between looking for and searching for

[Guest]

Test No. express/advan-7 "Prepositions", question 10

I'm after a new car.

(a) searching for
(b) looking for
(c) aiming for
(d) trying for

Test No. express/advan-7 "Prepositions", answer 10

I'm looking for a new car.

Correct answer: (b) looking for

Your answer was: incorrect
I'm searching for a new car.
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Isn't "search for" the same?

[Alan]

Yes, they are the same in a broad sense. Look for is simply try and find. Search for is try and find something that is hard to find. You could lose your reading glasses for example and be looking for them (searching for them) all over the house but you wouldn't use search for when you are referring to a car.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/run