family jewels

plural noun

, Slang.

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She may catch you; she shan't lay hold of our family jewels: they stand for the honour of our name and blood.'

She had no right to retain the family jewels; she had the most perfect of established rights to refuse doing an ignominious thing.

Family jewels were invariably the last resort of declining fortunes unwilling to abandon cherished appearances.

Mrs. Engledew, by the death of a relative, had just come into possession of some old family jewels—chiefly diamonds.

She shall, of course, have all the family jewels immediately, and the dining-room furniture too.

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