“Mom don’t know what went with her keys, but I found them!”
A few days ago someone left a comment about their grandmother using the phrase “what went with” when she lost something.
As soon as I read the comment I knew I wanted to share the saying in a post.
My family and myself have always used the phrase when something goes missing. A few examples:
“Hey Tipper what went with that black marker that used to be in the junk drawer?”
“I don’t know what went with my paper plates. I know I had some leftover after the party.”
“Whatever went with her brother? I used to see him with them all the time but I haven’t seen him in ages.”
The phrase “what went with” is so common to me I’d have a hard time saying any of the sentences above without using it.
Is it a phrase you are familiar with?
Last night’s video: The Tradition of Decoration Day in Appalachia – Putting Flowers on Pap’s Grave.
Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox
Those of us from a Catholic background always relied on St. Anthony to help us find lost items. There is even an old rhyme that the school kids would use (and adults too!), “Tony, Tony come around, somethings lost and must be found”. With one exception, St. Anthony always found whatever I’ve lost, the one exception is my sanity!
we use it all the time. when I use it I mean what did you do with it.
Oh yes I still what went with this it that all the time, it’s as common as bless her heart and a month of sundays. As always sending all good thoughts and prayers to Miss Cindy and your family. My best to Granny !
I haven’t heard that one, but my family uses “where the ___ ran off to” when we can’t find a variety of inanimate objects: I wonder where my good pen ran off to? Did you see where the clothespins ran off to? Ask Daddy if he knows where my glasses ran off to.
Still use it today. Thought it was a normal. Didn’t know other areas didn’t use it. I’m in Yancey County NC and my mother grew up here.
My Memaw, for sure, said this a lot. And “I swan-“
What went with is part of our every day language
My family says that too! I am looking forward to seeing you Saturday in Roanoke!
Re cemetery cleanings, we were starting to work one early morning at the old Rocky Knoll cemetery on SC 28 above Walhalla. I tossed out an observation I had heard my dad say many times: “We will go through this job like a dose of salts through a widow woman.” I was 13. When the workers stopped laughing, a widow named Moody asked me, point blank, why being a widow would make any difference? Of course, I had no answer.
Your blog brings back memories from my childhood. I can hear my Mama saying, “What went with ____? I guess I lost it somewhere along the way when I was trying to speak and write as the people on the TV did. My Loss!
We say, “what went with and what become of,” here also. Tipper, Pap’s resting place surely is in a beautiful spot. That graveyard looks so nice and kept up. Wonderful to see how folks care for it. The flowers you carried were lovely and Granny’s wreath add that special touch. I’m sure Pap is looking down and smiling. Prayers to all.
what? huh? where? when? how? why? who ?God bless you friends of Appalachia!
I wonder what went with all that money he collected from the insurance company. One day you woulda thought he was the king of the world, the next he don’t have a pot to pee in.
“what went with” is past tense of “what goes with” I don’t know what goes with all the Little Debbies, there ain’t nobody here but me!
Never heard that one before. I enjoyed your video last night and appreciated the adv ice on trimming the indeterminant tomatoes.
I’ve never heard it before and I’m 77! Seems a very polite way of saying something was misplaced. I’m glad you posted to enlighten me.
Yes, I’ve used that phrase as well as “she was madder than a wet hen” or “where in tarnation?”
Tipper, Pap’s resting place is absolutely a beautiful setting. From the time I was a little toddler, I was taken every year to cemeteries down south where my people were laid to rest. I knew all the locations in MS, east TN, and AL. My Mother made beautiful flower arrangements on a saddle like you put on Pap’s headstone. Mother made them for her parents and brothers and sister’s headstones. It wasn’t a sad outing it was a special time of the dearest stories being told about each loved one.
The red, white and blue, crocheted piece Granny made is beautiful!!! Praying for you all.
That phrase is so common to me that I don’t even think about it being said any other way. I got called out on a saying the other day and had to stop and think about what I said wrong. All I said was that I had a headache from listening at that kid screaming the whole time I was in the store.
Yes, our family uses that phrase.
It is so much easier than saying “where did my keys go” or “do you know what I did with my keys.? We must find the keys because we have places to go, people to meet, and things to do.
Yes, always heard “What went with…” and always used it myself.
That familiar phrase instantly brought to mind two book titles, both written by Floridian David Newell: “The Trouble of it Is” and “If Nothing Don’t Happen”, two similar sayings that tickle my ears.
I’ve never heard it or used it. I’m always learning something new on your blog. Thank you for sharing!
I’ve heard “what went with,” but I say “what happened with” or “to.” I’d certainly know what you mean without a doubt. Dialect is a funny thing and very regional. To me, it’s interesting you’re probably less than 200 miles and yet our mountain dialects differ a bit. But let me tell you, sister, I am picking up what you’re putting down loud and clear! Lol. I didn’t ride the short cheese wagon (bus) this morning! Prayers and blessings to Miss Cindy and “Sweet HEART” Granny too! Btw, it’s a foggy, cool mountain morning in WV? How much would somebody charge me to pump in some sunshine up here? Lol
I think I more often say “what did I do with” whatever it is I’ m looking for. I immediately put my keys on a large clip on my table that has all of my other keys on it whenever I come in from driving the car. I have a news bulletin for all of y’all younger members, it only gets worse as you get older! Often whatever I’m looking for will be right in front of my eyes, if it had been a snake it would have bit me! I want us to also remember Mr. Ken Roper’s family while we are praying for Miss Cindy and her family.
What went with all these delightful phrases from my childhood. We don’t hear them no more.
JC, you would still hear a good many of them if you lived around me. Me and my neighbors are country to the bone, all except for the outsiders that have moved in. Shoot, we even have some of “still wet behind the ear” generations saying some of them. These go along with being mad, mad as a hornet or I’m so made I could bite a ten penny nail in two.
I have heard this one all my life. What went with this… what went with that…My parents, my grandparents, aunts and uncles all said it. Most of my family is gone now and I don’t hear things much anymore so when y’all say something familiar like this it warms my heart.
This is what I would hear from my granny, “well I’ll swan what went with my snuff”. Can’t get away from it and I don’t want to!
Prayers and blessings to you all.
My grandmother would say “I swanny” when something aggravated her. That was her substitute for a curse word.
One of my mother’s and some others of her generations favorite expressions. When my granddaddy got mad (sometimes at grandmother ! ) his favorite word was dog gone. I don’t guess any of them thought of it being similar to cussing, but looking back I reckon it was.
I’ve heard and said it all my life.
Oh yes, I know that one. We use a slight variation though If recently misplaced, it is “What went the strawberry preserves?” If about something long gone, we say “What ever went with that pair of old ox shoes Grandpa had?” Another way to say the same thing is “what ever become of”. For example, ” What ever become of that old willy’s jeep Dad had when we were boys?” Comes in real handy if you talk to yourself also. Can ask things like ‘what ever become of that fella that thought he would take the world by the tail?’
Oh yes!!!! “What went with” almost anything that was missing or misplaced.
Have a Wonderful Wednesday!!!
Law, yes, that’s a common phrase I use frequently. Yesterday my husband used the phrase
“madder than a wet setting hen” and I know you’re probably familiar with that, Tipper.
Glenda Page is spot on about Decoration Day and forgotten ancestors. I miss the days when
we made the trip back to Buncombe County (Flat Creek Baptist Church) for Decoration Day
the first Sunday in June and all the wonderful food after the cemetery clean-up. Miss all
the family members who’ve passed on as well. Hardly any kin left there now.
So do I.
Know it and use it. How about using went in regard to dating? She went with that guy way longer than she should’ve.
I have heard and used that phrase but not very often, instead I will mostly use “what happened to …” It is fun to hear these sayings because I am familiar with many but do not hear or am not around people who use those sayings very much anymore.
We say what went with and I never thought about it till this post. Also say, hey where you at? When someone has disappeared in the house. We tend to shorten a sentence, not saying an inconsequential word. Blessings
I have heard “what went with” and “what happened to” as long as I can remember.
It seems that the two phrases are inter-changeable, “What happened to my keys? I must have put them somewhere and forgot where I put them?”
I still use it today! lol Miss Cindy as well as your whole family are in my prayers.
Ive heard it and said it all my life. Although I’m kind of partial to “where in tarnation….”
Decoration day is still being held even in upstate Florida. It is amazing in a lot of rural towns there is a decoration day and maybe a cleanup day. I’ll be willing to wager that there are a lot of elderly people that have no idea where their family is buried, gone and forgotten. Our ancestors are just as important as our history and both seem to becoming more unimportant as the traditions are not being brought forward. Give Granny and Ms Cindy my prayers and thoughts. Stay strong Tipper and God Bless
Yes, absolutely familiar with “what went with.” I think it’s been shortened to “what’s with that?” in many places. Love to you all and especially to Miss Cindy. God bless.
Yes, I am originally from rural Indiana and we used that phrase. Sometimes we would say, “What went on with him” too. Meaning: ” What’s the matter with him”. Love hearing these phases on this blog!
My husband’s grandmother used that phrase. I had not heard it before. It’s so perfect to express the feeling : bewilderment and some mild exasperation.