lay hold of

lay hold of  {v. phr.}
1. To take hold of; grasp; grab.
He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore.
2. To get possession of.
He sold every washing machine he could lay hold of.
3.  {Chiefly British}
To understand.
Some ideas in this science book are hard to lay hold of.
Categories: hold {Chiefly British} {v. phr.}