dropna(subset=...) should accept incomplete key
State: closed


I'm not sure if this is the best way to go about solving this problem, so feedback would be appreciated.

- [x] closes #17737
- [x] tests added / passed
- [x] passes `git diff upstream/master -u -- "*.py" | flake8 --diff`
- [x] whatsnew entry


Labels:
name: Indexing
description: Related to indexing on series/frames, not to indexes themselves

Comments:
# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#25407](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/9c0f6a8d703b6bee48918f2c5d16418a7ff736e3?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `<.01%`.
> The diff coverage is `71.42%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/graphs/tree.svg?width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&height=150&src=pr)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #25407      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   91.73%   91.73%   -0.01%     
==========================================
  Files         173      173              
  Lines       52845    52852       +7     
==========================================
+ Hits        48479    48485       +6     
- Misses       4366     4367       +1
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `90.29% <71.42%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |
| #single | `41.72% <14.28%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/frame.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZnJhbWUucHk=) | `96.77% <71.42%> (-0.11%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/util/testing.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3V0aWwvdGVzdGluZy5weQ==) | `87.66% <0%> (+0.09%)` | :arrow_up: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [9c0f6a8...56c5d97](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

# [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=h1) Report
> Merging [#25407](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=desc) into [master](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/commit/9c0f6a8d703b6bee48918f2c5d16418a7ff736e3?src=pr&el=desc) will **decrease** coverage by `<.01%`.
> The diff coverage is `71.42%`.

[![Impacted file tree graph](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/graphs/tree.svg?width=650&token=eZ4WkYLtcO&height=150&src=pr)](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=tree)

```diff
@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #25407      +/-   ##
==========================================
- Coverage   91.73%   91.73%   -0.01%     
==========================================
  Files         173      173              
  Lines       52845    52852       +7     
==========================================
+ Hits        48479    48485       +6     
- Misses       4366     4367       +1
```

| Flag | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| #multiple | `90.29% <71.42%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |
| #single | `41.72% <14.28%> (-0.01%)` | :arrow_down: |

| [Impacted Files](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=tree) | Coverage Δ | |
|---|---|---|
| [pandas/core/frame.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL2NvcmUvZnJhbWUucHk=) | `96.77% <71.42%> (-0.11%)` | :arrow_down: |
| [pandas/util/testing.py](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407/diff?src=pr&el=tree#diff-cGFuZGFzL3V0aWwvdGVzdGluZy5weQ==) | `87.66% <0%> (+0.09%)` | :arrow_up: |

------

[Continue to review full report at Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=continue).
> **Legend** - [Click here to learn more](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/codecov-delta)
> `Δ = absolute <relative> (impact)`, `ø = not affected`, `? = missing data`
> Powered by [Codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=footer). Last update [9c0f6a8...56c5d97](https://codecov.io/gh/pandas-dev/pandas/pull/25407?src=pr&el=lastupdated). Read the [comment docs](https://docs.codecov.io/docs/pull-request-comments).

if you want to update to the suggestions above
@jreback When I attempted to implement the requested changes above, I couldn't get it to work. I will give it another shot within the next few days and will let you know if I can get it to work.
closing as to the current solution. if you can make this work can reopen.