# Went missing?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 28, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237 "2002-05-28T20:11:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/1 "2002-05-28T20:11:13Z")
I first remember seeing this phrase in the last year or so in an article from IIRC,an Oregon newspaper.
I put it down as a regional colloquialism,but now I’m seeing it in media print from national newssources.
Does anyone know when this phrase supplanted the he/she/it/ IS missing?Or has it been around all these years and I missed it?
I have a rant about the use of decry in print,also-but that’s probably more an IMO
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2002, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/2 "2002-05-28T21:45:56Z")
To me, “went missing” always had the ring of British English.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [May 28, 2002, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/3 "2002-05-28T22:45:30Z")
‘Went missing’ is quite commonly used here in the UK.
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### Author:  [@Lure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lure)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/4 "2002-05-29T00:18:58Z")
Thanks-never thought of a British connection.Must be a Murdoch influence (or is he Aussie?)Probably doesn’t matter.
I do know Judge Crater never went missing.At least in NY paper accounts.
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### Author:  [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2002, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/5 "2002-05-29T00:22:10Z")
It’s a holdover from the Queen’s English. Same as “in hospital” or “on holiday.”
Just enjoy the flavour of the local colour and accept it as a trivial difference with your neighbour across the pond.
Now, hand me that spanner…
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### Author:  [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/6 "2002-05-29T04:47:39Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lure \*
> Thanks-never thought of a British connection.Must be a Murdoch influence (or is he Aussie?)Probably doesn’t matter.
\
In 1985, media magnate Rupert Murdoch renounced his Australian citizenship. He became a US citizen so that he was able to comply with the US law that prohibits foreign ownership of television stations.
\
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### Author:  [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)
#### Post date: [May 29, 2002, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-missing/111237/7 "2002-05-29T05:52:32Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lure \*
> \*\*Thanks-never thought of a British connection.Must be a Murdoch influence (or is he Aussie?)Probably doesn’t matter.
> \*\*
Murdoch is of Australian descent, but in order to own assets (TV, Radio, Print, etc) in the US he had to become a US Citizen.
And, please don’t try and give him back.
Read the fine print in your contract.