Turned Up Missin’
In Southern and Appalachian English, "turned up missing" means to be discovered absent or to have disappeared. It’s a folksy variation of "went missing," common in storytelling and casual speech.
synonyms: went missing, disappeared, vanished, absent
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I probably hear 'turned up missing' the most when somebody is describing something that can't be found. It's a common one down here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I probably hear 'turned up missing' the most when somebody is describing something that can't be found. It's a common one down here. Pronunciation
[TURNED UP MISS-in]
/tɜrnd ʌp ˈmɪs.ɪŋ/
/tɜrnd ʌp ˈmɪs.ɪŋ/
Meaning & Usage
- To be discovered absent or gone (idiom)
Elmer:
The dog’s collar done turned up missing after the storm.
The dog’s collar done turned up missing after the storm.
Estel:
Check by the creek - that’s where he runs off to.
Check by the creek - that’s where he runs off to.variations: come up missing, gone missing
★ "Turned up missing" flips the normal "turn up" positive expression on its head - it’s a classic Southernism for something that vanished. ★
Origin and Etymology
Likely evolved from mainstream "turn up" meaning "appear," with the ironic twist "turned up missing" to signal "found to be gone." Documented throughout the 20th century in Southern/Appalachian newspapers, oral histories, and conversation.
Usage Notes
- Common across Appalachia and the rural South; much rarer elsewhere.
- Often used about objects ("the wrench turned up missing") or people ("he turned up missing after the dance").
- Compare to "come up missing" and mainstream "went missing" - same meaning, different flavor.
- Tag under Dialect and Grammar for its distinctive construction.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 27). Turned Up Missing. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/turned-up-missing
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Turned Up Missing." HillbillySlang.com, 27 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/turned-up-missing.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Turned Up Missing." HillbillySlang.com. September 27, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/turned-up-missing.
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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...