in the hands of

Idioms  

1. In the possession of; in the custody or under the authority of. For example, In the hands of the decorator the hall was completely transformed. [Late 1200s] Also see in hand; in one's hands.

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Example Sentences

He doesn’t describe it as a buyer’s market, per se, but he noted that buyers are getting some power back after it was in the hands of sellers for years.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Sushila Karki, 73, a former chief justice who had led the caretaker administration for six months, said the country's future lay in the hands of a younger generation.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

It manufactured butadiene, a chemical needed to make artificial rubber, because the world’s natural rubber supply was mostly in the hands of the enemy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

“The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan” strikes the right balance of sincerity in the hands of Jasmine Warga, though there’s still plenty of material to tug at the heartstrings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

In practice, therefore, power was concentrated in the hands of a small metropolitan elite.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith