lay hands on
lay (one's) hands on (someone or something)
1. To touch or grasp someone, often with the threat of violence. Oh, once I lay my hands on you, you'll take back what you said!
2. To acquire something, usually a physical object. I need to go to the library and lay my hands on this book for my research paper. It took years, but I've finally laid my hands on this very rare Beatles recording!
See also: hand, lay, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
lay hands on
1. Also, get one's hands on. Get someone or something in one's grasp, especially to do harm. For example, Tom's gone off with the keys again; just wait till I lay my hands on him. [c. a.d. 1000]
2. Also, get or lay or put one's hands on . Find, obtain, as in As soon as I lay hands on the book, I'll call you, or He couldn't seem to put his hands on last year's sales figures. Also see get hold of.
See also: hand, lay, on
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- lay (one's) hands on (someone or something)
- get (one's) hands on (someone)
- get your hands on someone
- get/lay your hands on somebody
- drop (someone or something) on (someone or something)
- drop on
- lay hold of
- lay hold of (someone or something)
- grope after
- grope after (someone or something)