change hands

Idioms  

1. Pass from one owner to another. For example, This house seems to change hands every other year, or The contract is valid only when money changes hands. [Second half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

They played out a tight affair in Florida, with Buffalo leading 10-7 at half-time, then 13-10 heading into the fourth quarter, when the lead changed hands four times in a nail-biting finale.

From BBC

Historically, more territory has changed hands through conquest than transactions, but cash and gold have shifted many international borders.

From The Wall Street Journal

With about 12 million shares changing hands just before 11 a.m.

From MarketWatch

Palisades, meanwhile, is home to the greatest share of impacted lots that have changed hands.

From The Wall Street Journal

When freight changes hands from one rail company to another, there’s paperwork, coordination, and crew transitions that prolong shipping times by hours or days, costing customers money.

From The Wall Street Journal