 <pre><code>private List&lt;string&gt; Lookup(List&lt;string&gt; des) { var query = (from r in repo.Context.MyTable where des.Contains(r.Description) select r.Key); return query.ToList(); } </code></pre> <p>This is one query solution, this query will be materialize on this line:</p> <pre><code>return query.ToList(); </code></pre> <p>Filtering will be made by sql.</p>