about "search"

[Vaok]

I heard that they were_______ the missing deer.
A. in search of B. in search for C. in the search for D. in the search of

It is a quite confusing problem. According some reference books here in China, A and C are right . But I've found the practical use of B and D here :

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22in%20the%20search%20of%22&tbs=bks:1,cdr:1&num=100&lr=lang_en

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22in%20search%20for%22&tbs=bks:1,cdr:1&num=100&lr=lang_en

so I wonder if all the given choices are proper? thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

Only A is idiomatic.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Vaok]

I agree with you. Thank you. But are the given choices all correct in the sentence ?

[Mister Micawber]

No, I think that B,C and D are wrong answers.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Vaok]

But the google results indicate all the given choices are in use in English books. Are they wrong?

[Beeesneees]

I agree with MM. Look again at your Google results -- they do not reflect the usage in the particular example above.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Vaok]

So would you please tell me the differences of the four phrases?

Do you mean this?

I heard that they were out _in the search of_ the missing deer.
I heard that they were__in search of_ the missing deer.

[Mister Micawber]

This is how I hear them. BN or others may have different opinions:

I heard that they were in search of the missing deer.-- Idiomatic and correct here.
I heard that they were in search for the missing deer. -- Not used in competent native English.
I heard that they were in the search for the missing deer.- - This is the form that would be used when the search had already been mentioned.
I heard that they were in the search of the missing deer.-- Not used in competent native English.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Vaok]

thank you very much MM.
Can I conclude that?
in search of is often used as predicative.
in the search of is seldom used and not right.
in the search for is often used both as predicative and adverbial adjunct and the search is one already mentioned.
in search for is seldom used and not right.

[Mister Micawber]

That's how I see it, but I'm not sure what you are seeing here:

"in the search for is often used both as predicative and adverbial adjunct and the search is one already mentioned.

'in search of' can preface an adverb as easily as 'in the search for', as far as I can see.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's