sift through
Comb the evidence
To sift through something is to examine it carefully, sorting what's useful from what isn't.
The image comes from passing material through a sieve to separate fine from coarse.
You sift through evidence, job applications, or old photographs: I spent the afternoon sifting through boxes in the attic.
The phrase implies patience and methodical attention.
scrutinize
Inspect with close attention
assess · inspect · study · investigate · examine · appraise · dissect · probe · delve · consider
rummage
Search unsystematically through clutter
browse · scour · forage · ferret · winnow · cull · separate · trawl
- investigatinginvestigate, examine, inspect, probe, search
- searchsearch, web search, seek, text search, hunt
- thinkingthinking, reasoning, thought, ponder, contemplate
sift throughskim
Pass over lightly
breeze through · flip through · leaf through · skim over · speed-read
sift throughlump together
Combine without distinction
take at face value · sweep up · ignore · overlook · disregard
through, sift, throughout, sifter, sifting, sifted, sifters, unsifted, siftings