Possession is nine points/tenths/parts of the law American British proverb
A proverb used to express that someone have strong possession over something after a long time of using/keeping it. Others can not take it away from he/she, even if they have the legal rights to do so.
"The book is mine, but she's kept it for a long time, it's hard to take it back, possesion is nine parts of the law."
The attorney said to me:"You have the advantage of owning the land, but they've lived there for so long, possesion is nine points of the law."
To possess something very valuable, especially without realizing it
This expression dates around the 17th century.
1. An unlucky situation
2. An interjection used to express sympathy for someone's bad luck
1. I have had some tough beans recently. I got low marks and lost my bike just two days later.
2. A: I've got a low mark.
B: Tough bean, bro.