Английский словарь американских идиом - lay hold of

{v. phr.} 1. To take hold of; grasp; grab. * /He laid hold of the rope and pulled the boat ashore./ 2. To get possession of. * /He sold every washing machine he could lay hold of./ 3. {Chiefly British} To understand. * /Some ideas in this science book are hard to lay hold of./