get a grip

Definitions

1. 1

   To grip, as in

   To grip, as in: to take hold of, as with the hand.

   • I attempted to get a grip in the snow with my frozen fingers, to stem myself with my heels, but with no success, […]
   • Thereupon the conger, taking the offensive, made a grab at him; it tried to seize him again […], but in both cases it failed to get a grip of the slippery skin, and the next minute the otter was at the surface.
2. 2

   To attain the understanding of a complex topic.

   • […] the great antiquarian, Duald MacFirbis […], who was able to penetrate and get a grip of the long forgotten language of the ancient law tracts […]
   • "Grogan, the truth is, I travel to keep away from New York. There I'm lost: too many friends. When I'm at sea I get away from it all and kind of get a grip on life again. You understand?"
   • "You're looking at the thing wrong end to. Get a grip on your facts first. […]"
3. 3

   To come to one's senses and become more rational after having experienced a strong…

   To come to one's senses and become more rational after having experienced a strong emotion.

   • He needs to get a grip if he's getting that angry over such a little thing.
   • When I reached this stage of visual chaos I stopped for a moment to get a grip on myself. It would not do to let my nerves get the better of me at the very outset of what would surely be a trying experience, […]

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