get hold of

• get ahold of

get hold of (third-person singular simple present gets hold of, present participle getting hold of, simple past got hold of, past participle gotten hold of)

1. (transitive) To obtain.
   • 1987, Withnail and I:

     Withnail: I want to stop and get hold of a child.

2. (transitive) To pick up or grab.
   • 1987, Withnail and I:

     I: Now get hold of that map.

3. (transitive) To contact (a person).

   Get hold of John and tell him the meeting's been canceled.

4. (transitive) To control or stabilize (oneself).

   Get hold of yourself!