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

See Examples For:

change hands

Major franchises — the Lakers, Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and New York Yankees, to name a few — don’t change hands often.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Other states, such as California, have laws discouraging selling by only resetting values for local real estate taxes when properties change hands.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Futures for Brent crude that will change hands in June traded around $118 a barrel, their highest since March 31 and an eighth consecutive daily increase.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 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

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

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis