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 .

Related Words

• capture
• hijack
• seize
• snatch
• steal