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Voynich Posted 12 years ago
Vocabulary

Go astray vs be lost

Are there any differences between "My wallet went astray" and "My wallet got lost"? Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

We use personification to avoid blaming ourselves. The first is more abstract and lighter than the second. If you are truthful and matter-of-fact, you say: I lost my wallet.

— AlpheccaStars

  • We use personification to avoid blaming ourselves.
  • The first is more abstract and lighter than the second.
  • If you are truthful and matter-of-fact, you say: I lost my wallet.
  • I misplaced my wallet.
  • For animate objects, it is natural: My dog strayed.
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4 Answers
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We use personification to avoid blaming ourselves. The first is more abstract and lighter than the second.

If you are truthful and matter-of-fact, you say:
I lost my wallet.
I misplaced my wallet.

For animate objects, it is natural:
My dog strayed.
My cat got lost.
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Couldn't "My wallet went astray." also mean that I suspect my wallet has been stolen? Perhaps I don't want to accuse any of my listeners of stealing my wallet but, I am certain that I didn't lose it.
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Anonymous Couldn't "My wallet went astray." also mean that I suspect my wallet has been stolen? Perhaps I don't want to accuse any of my listeners of stealing my wallet but, I am certain that I didn't lose it.
Yes, you don't want to blame anyone, at least until you have positively identified the culprit. Even then, you might want to shame them.
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voynichMy wallet went astray
I never hear this turn of phrase, but if I did, I would think it meant that the speaker misplaced his wallet and felt confident that he would soon find it.

CJ
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