[Ditter]

When did we stop saying someone “disappeared” and started saying they “went missing”? It just sounds kind of clumsy and wrong to me.

[muawiyah]

When it's near the Potomac, the Tidal Basin, Canal or other bodies of water in or around DC we always say 'disappeared'.

The most notorious killer around here is the Water Intake system below Great Falls above Key Bridge. People like to get too near it and it sucks them under.

This disappearance took place near the Tidal Basin ~ hence, it's another disapperance ~

[muawiyah]

But he was also with a tourist group (of relatives) so he went missing because someone noticed he wasn't around. They should have suspected a 'disapperance' into the nearby bodies of water!

No doubt they were all shaken ~ just like that GONE!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It is racist to use three-syllable words.

[Albion Wilde]

When did we stop saying someone “disappeared” and started saying they “went missing”?

It's a Britishism from the snooty set that trickled down. I have to laugh when I read the DailyMail (a great online tabloid, btw) at some of their expressions. The most cringeworthy? "Fell pregnant" -- "Kim Kardashian has fallen pregnant." LOL!!

Here's a few other faves: "WAG" ("wives and girlfriends", such as "the players' WAGs at football matches"), and "LBD" (little black dress). Then there's the "anti-social behavior order" given for disturbing the peace -- an "ASBO."