change hands

Idioms and Phrases

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

“What bothers me is that after the first sale, the artist no longer profits as the work changes hands,” he said in an interview.

From New York Times

Exactly how much money changes hands and who benefits from these "oil swaps" is just one of the unknowns in these deals.

From BBC

There are also legal protections which apply in the UK under its version of the data protection law, GDPR, whether the firm goes bust or changes hands.

From BBC

It had spent five years importing and exporting fruit and vegetables, but the firm changed hands in December 2020.

From BBC

And six scoreless innings from the L.A. bullpen kept the lead from changing hands again.

From Los Angeles Times