come under the hammer

come under the hammer

To be put up for or sold at auction. The banker's family estate had to come under the hammer to cover some of his mounting debt. A number of our possessions have come under the hammer since David lost his job. We have to pay our mortgage somehow! Anyone who's anyone has flocked to the New York auction house to see the actress's extensive jewelry collection come under the hammer.

See also: come, hammer

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

come under the hammer

 and go under the hammer

Fig. [for something] to be auctioned. The house at the corner is coming under the hammer next week. The repossessed farm will go under the hammer.

See also: come, hammer

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

come (or go) under the hammer

be sold at an auction.

See also: come, hammer

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

come/go under the ˈhammer

be offered for sale at an auction (= a sale at which things are sold to the person who offers the most money): The house and all its contents are to come under the hammer next Thursday.

The person in charge of an auction hits the table with a hammer to show that he/she has accepted the highest offer.

See also: come, go, hammer

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017