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change hands

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change hands

[for something] to be sold or passed from owner to owner. (From the "point of view" of the object that is passed on.) How many times has this lot changed hands in the last ten years? We built this house in 1970, and it has never changed hands.

See also: change, hand

change hands

to be moved from one owner to another Today a record number of shares changed hands on the stock market. Over two centuries, this beautiful city on the border between the two countries changed hands at least four times.

See also: change, hand

change hands

to be sold by someone and bought by another person The hotel has changed hands twice since 1982.

See also: change, hand

change hands

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]

See also: change, hand

change hands

To pass from one owner to another.

See also: change, hand