import re


def search_terms_to_list(search_string):
    """ takes a search query string, returns a list of terms to search on,
        extracting terms surrounded by double quotes as separate items """

    search_terms = []
    exact_searches = re.findall(r'"([^"]+)"', search_string)
    if exact_searches:
        for phrase in exact_searches:
            search_string = re.sub(f'"{phrase}"', '', search_string)  # strip exact search search terms out
    search_terms.extend(exact_searches)
    search_terms.extend(search_string.split())
    return search_terms