Phrase (idiomatic expression)
/ˈfaɪndərz ˈkiːpərz/
"Finders keepers" is an informal phrase often used to express the idea that the person who finds something has the right to keep it, especially if the original owner cannot be identified. It suggests that if something is found and not claimed, the finder can lay claim to it without moral or legal responsibility to return it to the original owner.
Frequency of use is common in informal contexts, often in spoken English rather than formal written contexts.
Finders keepers; I found this wallet on the street, so it's mine now.
"Кто нашёл, тот и держит; я нашёл этот кошелёк на улице, так что он теперь мой."
He always says, finders keepers, when he discovers money lying around.
"Он всегда говорит: кто нашёл, тот и держит, когда находит деньги, валяющиеся в округе."
The kids believed in the saying, finders keepers, when they stumbled upon an abandoned bike.
"Дети верили в пословицу 'кто нашёл, тот и держит', когда наткнулись на брошённый велосипед."
The phrase "finders keepers" is often invoked in various idiomatic contexts that relate to possession, luck, or opportunities.
If you find it first, finders keepers, so don't feel bad about taking it!
"Если ты нашёл это первым, кто нашёл, тот и держит, так что не чувствуй себя плохо за то, что забрал это!"
She always quotes finders keepers when she picks up something nice that someone else lost.
"Она всегда цитирует 'кто нашёл, тот и держит', когда подбирает что-то хорошее, что кто-то другой потерял."
The children played with the philosophy of finders keepers, thinking anything they discover is now theirs.
"Дети играли с философией 'кто нашёл, тот и держит', думая, что всё, что они откроют, теперь принадлежит им."
In his view, the old rule of finders keepers applies to all lost treasures.
"По его мнению, древнее правило 'кто нашёл, тот и держит' касается всех потерянных сокровищ."
The phrase "finders keepers" has its roots in English law, dating back to the late medieval period. It encapsulates the notion of possession being nine-tenths of the law, stemming from the idea that those who find lost property have certain rights to it.
In conclusion, "finders keepers" is a playful yet philosophical phrase that embodies the principles of possession and ownership. It has permeated various aspects of both casual conversation and child-like logic regarding lost objects, making it a significant part of informal English.