possession is nine points of the law

Idioms  

1. Actually holding something is better than merely claiming it. For example, When Karen told John he must return the sofa he'd borrowed, he said possession is nine points of the law. This term originally alluded to nine elements that would aid someone's lawsuit, among them a good lawyer, good witnesses, a good jury, a good judge, and good luck. In time, however, the term was used more for squatter's rights. [Late 1500s]

---

Example Sentences

The Palestinians may well have won the propaganda war but possession is nine points of the law and they don't possess the ability to dislodge the occupants.

From New York Times

If possession is nine points of the law, there was never a place in the history of the world held with nine as obvious points.

From Project Gutenberg

Possession is nine points of the law, and they say there are but ten.

From Project Gutenberg

Possession is nine points of the law, and the soil was in possession of the small knot of Protestants, who knew that their existence depended on keeping the majority in chains.

From Project Gutenberg

And thus, on the principle that "possession is nine points of the law," it secures for its roots the use of a certain amount of territory quite safe from the encroachments of other plants.

From Project Gutenberg