diff --git a/resources/default_tweaks.py b/resources/default_tweaks.py
index 43edd1c690..fb4fff9dc7 100644
--- a/resources/default_tweaks.py
+++ b/resources/default_tweaks.py
@@ -96,3 +96,17 @@ auto_connect_to_folder = ''
 # Specify a tag to be automatically applied when a book is added to the library.
 # Example: add_tag_to_new_books='ToDo'
 add_tag_to_new_books = ''
+
+
+# Create search terms to apply a query across several built-in search terms.
+# Syntax: {'new term':['existing term 1', 'term 2', ...], 'new':['old'...] ...}
+# Example: create the term 'myseries' that when used as myseries:foo would
+# search all of the search categories 'series', '#myseries', and '#myseries2':
+# grouped_search_terms={'myseries':['series','#myseries', '#myseries2']}
+# Example: two search terms 'a' and 'b' both that search 'tags' and '#mytags':
+# grouped_search_terms={'a':['tags','#mytags'], 'b':['tags','#mytags']}
+# Note: You cannot create a search term that is a duplicate of an existing term.
+# Such duplicates will be silently ignored. Also note that search terms ignore
+# case. 'MySearch' and 'mysearch' are the same term.
+grouped_search_terms = {}
+
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py b/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
index 89008735fe..e442007c9a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/library/models.py
@@ -236,8 +236,8 @@ class BooksModel(QAbstractTableModel): # {{{
     def search(self, text, reset=True):
         try:
             self.db.search(text)
-        except ParseException:
-            self.searched.emit(False)
+        except ParseException as e:
+            self.searched.emit(e.msg)
             return
         self.last_search = text
         if reset:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/search_box.py b/src/calibre/gui2/search_box.py
index 8986346dbc..d8f59b8db7 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/search_box.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/search_box.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class SearchBox2(QComboBox):
         self.setSizeAdjustPolicy(self.AdjustToMinimumContentsLengthWithIcon)
         self.setMinimumContentsLength(25)
         self._in_a_search = False
+        self.tool_tip_text = self.toolTip()
 
     def initialize(self, opt_name, colorize=False, help_text=_('Search')):
         self.as_you_type = config['search_as_you_type']
@@ -100,6 +101,7 @@ class SearchBox2(QComboBox):
         self.clear_to_help()
 
     def normalize_state(self):
+        self.setToolTip(self.tool_tip_text)
         if self.help_state:
             self.setEditText('')
             self.line_edit.setStyleSheet(
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ class SearchBox2(QComboBox):
                     self.normal_background)
 
     def clear_to_help(self):
+        self.setToolTip(self.tool_tip_text)
         if self.help_state:
             return
         self.help_state = True
@@ -131,6 +134,9 @@ class SearchBox2(QComboBox):
         self.clear_to_help()
 
     def search_done(self, ok):
+        if isinstance(ok, basestring):
+            self.setToolTip(ok)
+            ok = False
         if not unicode(self.currentText()).strip():
             return self.clear_to_help()
         self._in_a_search = ok
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/caches.py b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
index ca66d28ddb..b9c1211c7f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/caches.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/caches.py
@@ -319,12 +319,18 @@ class ResultCache(SearchQueryParser):
                 matches.add(item[0])
         return matches
 
-    def get_matches(self, location, query):
+    def get_matches(self, location, query, allow_recursion=True):
         matches = set([])
         if query and query.strip():
             # get metadata key associated with the search term. Eliminates
             # dealing with plurals and other aliases
             location = self.field_metadata.search_term_to_key(location.lower().strip())
+            if isinstance(location, list):
+                if allow_recursion:
+                    for loc in location:
+                        matches |= self.get_matches(loc, query, allow_recursion=False)
+                    return matches
+                raise ParseException(query, len(query), 'Recursive query group detected', self)
 
             # take care of dates special case
             if location in self.field_metadata and \
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/database2.py b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
index 02141b8f91..91eafbaff0 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/database2.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/database2.py
@@ -297,6 +297,13 @@ class LibraryDatabase2(LibraryDatabase, SchemaUpgrade, CustomColumns):
         if len(saved_searches().names()):
             tb_cats.add_search_category(label='search', name=_('Searches'))
 
+        gst = tweaks['grouped_search_terms']
+        for t in gst:
+            try:
+                self.field_metadata._add_search_terms_to_map(gst[t], [t])
+            except ValueError:
+                traceback.print_exc()
+
         self.book_on_device_func = None
         self.data    = ResultCache(self.FIELD_MAP, self.field_metadata)
         self.search  = self.data.search
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py b/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
index 2a79c3a75b..e28b6d422a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/field_metadata.py
@@ -475,9 +475,7 @@ class FieldMetadata(dict):
 #                 ])
 
     def get_search_terms(self):
-        s_keys = []
-        for v in self._tb_cats.itervalues():
-            map((lambda x:s_keys.append(x)), v['search_terms'])
+        s_keys = sorted(self._search_term_map.keys())
         for v in self.search_items:
             s_keys.append(v)
 #        if set(s_keys) != self.DEFAULT_LOCATIONS:
@@ -488,6 +486,9 @@ class FieldMetadata(dict):
     def _add_search_terms_to_map(self, key, terms):
         if terms is not None:
             for t in terms:
+                t = t.lower()
+                if t in self._search_term_map:
+                    raise ValueError('Attempt to add duplicate search term "%s"'%t)
                 self._search_term_map[t] = key
 
     def search_term_to_key(self, term):