sold the family silver

A form of sell the family silver — To sell one's property (not necessarily heirlooms) in an attempt to avoid or escape financial difficulties.

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Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of sell the family silver
Cite this entry
APA

sold the family silver. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sold%20the%20family%20silver

MLA

“sold the family silver.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sold%20the%20family%20silver. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sold the family silver,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sold%20the%20family%20silver.

Source: sold the family silver on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.