Short Circuit WordPress Search

short-circuit-search.php

<?php

add_filter( 'posts_request', 'tbcorr_posts_request', 10, 2 );
function tbcorr_posts_request( $request, $query ){

    $is_admin = $query->query_vars['is_admin'];
    $is_search = $query->query_vars['is_search'];
    $is_main_query = $query->query_vars['is_main_query'];

    if( $is_admin ){

        return $request;
    }

    if( ! $is_search ){

        return $request;
    }

    if( ! $is_main_query ){

        return $request;
    }

    return false;
}