finders, keepers

1. A phrase meaning that whoever finds something is entitled to keep it. For example, Someone left a dollar bill in this rented car—finders, keepers. This expression alludes to an ancient Roman law to that effect and has been stated in numerous different ways over the centuries. The modern version, often stated as Finders keepers, losers weepers, dates from the mid-1800s and is no longer a legal precept.

Example Sentences

He decides to set loose his newest products, the Lost Boys, to retrieve the aliens he claims as his by the rule of “finders, keepers.”

From Salon

Gibney, now well into her 50s, has more than proven her strength as an investigator after learning the ropes from Hodges and taking over the Finders Keepers detective agency following his death, but even her biggest supporters would chuckle at the thought of her working as a bodyguard and she herself would have chuckled the hardest.

From Salon

Letting agent Finders Keepers said it was "launching" its student accommodation at 09:00 GMT on Tuesday, with applications accepted on a "first come, first served" basis.

From BBC

Ms Barnes said Finders Keepers did tell students not to queue, but she felt she did not have a choice.

From BBC

The BBC approached Finders Keepers for comment, but an automated message said the office was too busy with the launch to answer.

From BBC