sell the family silver

To sell or part with a very valuable resource for a quick and immediate gain or advantage, rather than holding onto it for future use or to accrue even greater value. Unfortunately, the government sold the family silver during the economic crash, auctioning off some of the most valuable land in the country to private investors to help meet its debt obligations. To avoid bankruptcy, the company had to offload some of its most valuable intellectual property, but many investors worry they may have doomed themselves in the long run by selling the family silver.

sell the family silver

If you accuse someone of selling the family silver, you mean that they are getting rid of something valuable in order to get a quick advantage when it would be better to keep it for an advantage in the future. He accused the government of selling the family silver by allowing foreign investors to purchase the buildings. As Maureen Freely says, from bitter experience: `Writing about these things is like selling the family silver. You can only do it once.'

sell the family silver

part with a valuable resource in order to gain an immediate advantage.

In 1985 , the former British prime minister Harold Macmillan made a speech to the Tory Reform Group on the subject of privatization (the selling off of nationalized industries to private companies). He likened it to the selling of heirlooms by impoverished aristocratic families: ‘First of all the Georgian silver goes…’.

词组	sell the family silver
释义	sell the family silver sell the family silver To sell or part with a very valuable resource for a quick and immediate gain or advantage, rather than holding onto it for future use or to accrue even greater value. Unfortunately, the government sold the family silver during the economic crash, auctioning off some of the most valuable land in the country to private investors to help meet its debt obligations. To avoid bankruptcy, the company had to offload some of its most valuable intellectual property, but many investors worry they may have doomed themselves in the long run by selling the family silver. See also: family, sell, silver Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. sell the family silver If you accuse someone of selling the family silver, you mean that they are getting rid of something valuable in order to get a quick advantage when it would be better to keep it for an advantage in the future. He accused the government of selling the family silver by allowing foreign investors to purchase the buildings. As Maureen Freely says, from bitter experience: `Writing about these things is like selling the family silver. You can only do it once.' See also: family, sell, silver Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. sell the family silver part with a valuable resource in order to gain an immediate advantage. In 1985 , the former British prime minister Harold Macmillan made a speech to the Tory Reform Group on the subject of privatization (the selling off of nationalized industries to private companies). He likened it to the selling of heirlooms by impoverished aristocratic families: ‘First of all the Georgian silver goes…’. See also: family, sell, silver Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: rich in rich in (something) rich with rich with (something) a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush bird in the hand is worth two in the bush play (one's) trump card play trump card squander away someone's trump card References in periodicals archive 'But if they do not, the commission is not bound to sell the family silver at throwaway prices,' he added. Ill-timed divestment Scottish Conservative local government spokesman Alexander Stewart said: "The SNP has cut council budgets to the bone, and now local authorities are having to sell the family silver to compensate. Councils dipped in to cash reserves for PS157m; GOVERNMENT Former Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford called it "the economics of a madhouse" adding: "It's clear the FA wants to sell the family silver." LOST: ONE MORE ICON; FA CHIEFS FLOGGING WEMBLEY TO U.S. TYCOON; Anger at secret PS800m talks to sell off the home of football Then Whiplash Maggie turned up and ruined it, despite Harold Macmillan warning her not to sell the family silver. We now have another know-all Tory, Theresa Farage and her bunch of low-grade xenophobes. Country can afford Labour proposals "Rangers are going to have to sell the family silver to catch Celtic," said Steven, who was involved in eight of Rangers' record nine title wins, missing only the 1991/92 season after a year in France with Marseille. Steven: 'Gers have to sell family silver to stop Celtic' The party needs to get back to its roots and not sell the family silver. Party's faithful call for May to be new leader Shows this magical don't come around very often, so if you have to sell the family silver to get a ticket, do it. MARY POPPINS FESTIVAL THEATRE, EDINBURGH LIVE; UNTIL MAY 21 Mr Raymond said: "When you sell the family silver there's no more silver left to sell. Don't sell family silver, pleads NFU president TO support dwindling council budgets, Kenn Winter (Letters, September 24) proposes to sell the family silver, both literal and metaphorical. Don't sell 'family silver' The Earl of Grantham realises he must cut costs after visiting a neighbour who had to sell the family silver to make ends meet. Downton falls on hard times "We wouldn't sell the family silver if we didn't think it was the right thing to do. Cricket chief in talks to change stadium name The City of Coventry should not sell the family silver to this hedge fund who have shown no respect for the fans, as demonstrated recently when they insulted our intelligence by giving the feeble excuse of confiscating 'flammable' banners from anyone who disagreed with them. Don't sell Ricoh to Sisu asset-strippers; Letters letters@coventrytelegraph.net "If we sell the family silver we'll never get it back, it's gone for ever so if we sell something we want the right price for it." Another Sunday of rail disruption "It is about reaching the right conclusion for the next 100 years, not for the next few months as you only sell the family silver once." Anfield faces its biggest ever decision; Liverpool's future rests with new owners "There have been overtures from interested parties but why sell the family silver or have analysts calling the tune?" New vision was needed to drive the business forward; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Rensburg Sheppards The Profile Barry Turnbull survives gridlock to keep an appointment with transport group Suttons' managing director Andrew Palmer
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