lost and found

Meaning

A 'lost and found' (or 'lost and found office') is a designated area in a public place, such as an airport, train station, or hotel, where lost items are kept until their owners claim them. It can function as a noun phrase or an adjective. Use this term when you need to report a missing item or retrieve something you left behind.

Examples

• I think I left my laptop at security, so I need to check the lost and found.

  I think I left my laptop at security, so I need to check the lost and found.

• The airport's lost and found is located on the lower level next to baggage claim.

  The airport's lost and found is located on the lower level next to baggage claim.

• Did anyone hand in a black leather wallet to the lost and found today?

  Did anyone hand in a black leather wallet to the lost and found today?

• Fortunately, a kind stranger turned my keys into the lost and found.

  Fortunately, a kind stranger turned my keys into the lost and found.

• You should call the hotel's lost and found department to see if they found your charger.

  You should call the hotel's lost and found department to see if they found your charger.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went to the lost and find office to look for my keys.

  ✓ I went to the lost and found office to look for my keys.

  The standard English idiom always uses the past participle 'found', not the base form 'find'.

• ✗ I lost my bag, so I am looking for the lose and found.

  ✓ I lost my bag, so I am looking for the lost and found.

  'Lost' is the correct past participle adjective here, not the verb 'lose'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you leave your umbrella on the train, you should check the ___.

  💡 The place where misplaced items are kept

  Show answer

  lost and found

• I'm heading to the ___ office to see if my passport was turned in.

  💡 The service department for missing items

  Show answer

  lost and found