Sorry for the LISP reference, but it's probably the best example.

For example, if I write:

Commute[Times[x_,y_]] := Times[y_,x_]

And I want to test this on Times[1,2], is there any input I can give to get the response Times[2,1]?

If I say Commute[Times[1,2]] then 1*2 is evaluated first and Commute does not run because the pattern does not match.

If I say Commute[Unevaluated[Times[1,2]] then Commute runs properly but Times[2,1] is evaluated inside Commute and 2 is returned.

If I say Unevaluated[Commute[Times[1,2]]] then Commute is not evaluated and I just get the same expression back again.

I know I can test it by using unassigned variables, so that the Times expression cannot be evaluated, but is there a way to do so without needing to worry about that?