lay hands on
verb1
Idiomatic To find, obtain, or procure.
- If we can lay hands on some chicken wire and a black light, we can make some scary Halloween decorations.
- After a long trial at which the Crown brought forward every right-wing bigot and crackpot psychiatrist they could lay hands on, The Body Politic was acquitted.1981 February 14, Alexander Wilson, “The New Right Attacks Childhood Sexuality: A Canadian Perspective”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 29, page 6:
1 more example
- What luck, right when I'd laid my hands on flight coupons; had my checkbook in the black!2008, Sean Miller, Shveta Verma, Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory, page 111:
2
Idiomatic To seize or assault.
3
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lay, hands.
- Related terms
- laying on of hands, lay on hands