DB<127> @search=qw/smith sanders/ => ("smith", "sanders") DB<128> $regex= join "|", @search => "smith|sanders" DB<129> @matches = grep { /($regex)/ } @full => ( "Bob-smith#anthropology", "Sandy-smith#sociology", "Tom-sanders#english", "Anthony-sanders#english", ) DB<130> @full => ( "Bob-smith#anthropology", "Sandy-smith#sociology", "Tom-sanders#english", "Tina-lacy#socialwork", "Anthony-sanders#english", )