change hands
Pass to another
Change hands means to pass from one owner to another.
Property, money, and goods change hands through sales, gifts, or trades: The house has changed hands three times in five years.
The phrase emphasizes transfer of possession rather than the transaction itself: Millions of dollars changed hands that night.
Exchange for payment
- purchaseGoods obtained for payment
- dealAgreement or distribution
- auctionCompetitive public sale
- bidOffer to purchase
closing · contract · agreement · negotiation · broker · escrow · settlement · payment
Move between locations
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- conveyanceTransfer of property rights
- handoverTransfer of control
- successionFollowing in order
inheritance · bequest · deed · title · proprietor · buyer · seller · previous owner
Change from one state
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- controlAuthority to direct
- regimeSystem of governance
- governmentAuthority over a state
authority · administration · succession · coup · election · takeover · handoff · stewardship
sale
Exchange for payment
bid · closing · contract · agreement · negotiation · broker · escrow · settlement · payment · price
transfer
Move between locations
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- conveyanceTransfer of property rights
- handoverTransfer of control
succession · inheritance · bequest · deed · title · proprietor · buyer · seller · previous owner · estate
transition
Change from one state
- leadershipAbility to direct others
- controlAuthority to direct
- regimeSystem of governance
government · authority · administration · succession · coup · election · takeover · handoff · stewardship · command