Linux: How to finish/interrupt the `less` command in "&<pattern>" mode

Question

Using Linux I want to know how to go back to normal file view with less whenever I used the & <pattern> format in the less to search for only the lines with the pattern I am looking for.

I know that I can typeq or ^z BUT these terminate the less. However, I DO not want to quit the less and I just want to do see the only lines with pattern and then go back to previous less environment.

Any help is highly appreciated.

Answer 1

Just use & again with no pattern, i.e. enter & and hit return.