Possession is nine-tenths of the law

Proverbial Meaning: The law has difficulty taking something from someone when they already have possession of it, even if their right to keep it is not strictly legal.

Literal Origins: The person who has control of a house and the land around it is more likely to win a case disputing the ownership where the other party does not have possession.

Common Usage: This proverb is very well-known but hardly ever used in its original context. It is more widely used as a joking statement of fact between friends when one has stolen something from the other.