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]

---

Example Sentences

Critics said private loans rarely change hands, so they lack the volatility that funds face.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Brent crude futures are on pace for their biggest monthly gain on record, with contracts for April delivery rising another 2.7% in overnight trading to change hands at $108.22 a barrel.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 3% to change hands above $85 a barrel, close to its most expensive since the summer of 2024.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

Bunge shares, which began the year priced at about 10 times forward earnings, still change hands at just 14 times.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

There was no need on either side—long or short—for cash to change hands.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis