go under the hammer
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Related to going under the hammer: come under the hammer, hammered out
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go under the hammer
To be put up for or sold at auction. The banker's family estate had to go under the hammer to cover some of his mounting debt.
See also: hammer
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.