# sell the family silver

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sell-the-family-silver
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To sell one's property (not necessarily heirlooms) in an attempt to avoid or escape financial difficulties.

## Examples

- The company had to sell the family silver to pay its debts.
- You should not sell the family silver just to buy a new car.
- To keep the business running during the crisis, the owners were forced to sell the family silver.
- The football club decided to sell the family silver by letting their star players join other teams just to pay for the new stadium repairs.
- Facing total bankruptcy, the government decided to sell the family silver by privatizing essential national assets to cover the mounting deficit.

## Origin

Referring to the selling of heirlooms. Use in reference to national policy popularized in a paraphrasing of a speech in 1985 by former British prime minister Harold Macmillan: “The sale of assets is common with individuals and states when they run into financial difficulties. First, all the Georgian silver goes, and then all that nice furniture that used to be in the saloon. Then the Canalettos go,” in reference the privatization policy of Margaret Thatcher.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.