to get hold of

Examples

• All

• I reached out and got hold of his right arm.

  Fiction book (1996)

• We start off by getting hold of a mule.

  Blood Done Sign My Name (2010)

• A kid got hold of the phone.

  Torn: Dark Bullets (2020)

• We must get hold of that DVD.

  Johnny English (2003)

• The kid got hold of a boat and he slipped down south.

  Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure (1995)

• Actually, I looked forward to getting hold of a parka somewhere; that would be like home, sure enough.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Years later, I got hold of a cheap tourist pan from Miami.

  Academic text (2008)

• He got hold of a hydrogen balloon.

• Others drank or gambled their money away as soon as they got hold of it.

  Academic text (1995)

• I need to get hold of my backpack before we leave.

Synonyms

G

to get

vsto get hold of

∞ 1.0

To receive something, for example by buying it or finding it

is specifically about physically taking or possessing by hand

T

to take

vsto get hold of

∞ 1.0

Accept an offer or person into a group

is narrower, focusing on physically obtaining or possessing items

G

to grab

vsto get hold of

∞ 1.0

To take hold of something quickly with your hand

refers more generally to obtaining something by physical action

P

to pick up

vsto get hold of

834 1.0

To lift something or someone from the ground with your hands

covers physical obtaining more broadly, not only lifting from surfaces

S

to seize

vsto get hold of

277 3.2

To take control of a place or person quickly, often by force

is the general physical obtaining or taking of something

S

to snatch

vsto get hold of

136 3.0

To take something quickly with your hand

is the broader physical obtaining or taking of an item

G

to grip

vsto get hold of

85 1.3

To hold something or someone tightly, often to keep them safe

means to get or possess something through physical control

G

to get one's hands on

vsto get hold of

77 4.1

To obtain something that is hard to find or buy

is the physical act of obtaining or coming into possession

G

to grasp

vsto get hold of

60 1.1

To take and hold something firmly with the hands

focuses on obtaining or possessing something by physical action

S

to snatch up

vsto get hold of

24 4.6

To grab something quickly, often before someone else

is the general act of physically obtaining or possessing something

T

to take hold of

vsto get hold of

21 3.1

Grab something or someone with your hands

is about obtaining something physically or gaining possession

T

to take hold

vsto get hold of

15 2.0

To grasp something with your hands

is about obtaining something physically or gaining possession

L

to lay hands on

vsto get hold of

6 6.5

To get something, often after hard work

is about physically taking possession rather than just acquiring with effort

Antonyms

R

to release

∞ 1.8

To let someone or something go free from being held

How Grasped

to seize

277 3.2

to grab

∞ 1.0

to get hold of

24 2.5

to take

∞ 2.8

to reach

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology