fall into the wrong hands

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fall into the wrong hands (third-person singular simple present falls into the wrong hands, present participle falling into the wrong hands, simple past fell into the wrong hands, past participle fallen into the wrong hands)

1. (idiomatic) To become the possession of, or be discovered by, an unfriendly third party.

   The policeman was concerned that the lost handgun would fall into the wrong hands.

• get into the wrong hands