Come to Find Out
In Southern and Appalachian storytelling, "come to find out" means "as it turned out" or "I later discovered."
It’s a fixed phrase used when the speaker reveals what really happened after some mix-up or surprise.
synonyms: as it turned out, turns out, found out later
Hillbilly Dude Says...
The phrase 'come to find out' is super common from the locals down here in matter-of-fact story tellin'. Hillbilly Dude Says...
The phrase 'come to find out' is super common from the locals down here in matter-of-fact story tellin'. Pronunciation
[KUM tuh fahnd OUT]
/ˈkʌm tə faɪnd aʊt/
/ˈkʌm tə faɪnd aʊt/
Meaning & Usage
- To reveal or discover the real truth of something
Earl:
Thought it was a cat under the porch.
Thought it was a cat under the porch.
Ray:
Come to find out, it was a possum big as a loaf of bread.
Come to find out, it was a possum big as a loaf of bread.variations: came to find out, turns out, found out later
Origin and Etymology
From the older phrase "I came to find out," which appears in 19th-century American writing. In Appalachian and Southern speech, the subject and helping verb were dropped, leaving the smoother "come to find out." It fits the region’s storytelling rhythm-short, direct, and built for speech, not writing.
Usage Notes
Used to introduce a revelation, correction, or twist-often after a bit of buildup.
It’s a hallmark of Southern and Appalachian conversation, bridging what the speaker once thought and what they later learned.
- "Thought she was his cousin-come to find out, she’s his boss."
- "I blamed the boy-come to find out, it was me."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, October 6). Come to Find Out. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/come-to-find-out
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Come to Find Out." HillbillySlang.com, 6 Oct. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/come-to-find-out.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Come to Find Out." HillbillySlang.com. October 6, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/come-to-find-out.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...