You can type /phrase and then press ctrl-F for the full search bar. A more annoying problem is that some websites capture / presses, making it harder to initiate a page search. Then you have to shift-esc ctrl-f to search.
THANK YOU! I never knew those little quality of life hacks. I am going to beat them into my brain so I never forget them, and I suspect each time I use them I will remember the nice strange from HN who made it possible. <3