get a handle on

get a handle on (something)

To have a firm, clear understanding or determination of something. Go down to the circuit breaker and see if you can get a handle on what's causing the power outages. I'd gotten a pretty good handle on the concept after spending an hour with the tutor. I thought I had gotten a pretty good fix on English idioms, but I don't understand this one at all!

See also: get, handle, on

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get a handle on

see under get a fix on.

See also: get, handle, on

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

get a handle on

find a means of understanding, controlling, or approaching a person or situation.

2000 Farm Chemicals Getting a handle on what that profitability is can be challenging unless you are willing to do some specific cost tracking on your site-specific investment.

See also: get, handle, on

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

get/have a handle on somebody/something

(informal) become/be familiar with and so understand somebody/something: I can’t really get a handle on the situation here. What’s happening?

See also: get, handle, have, on, somebody, something

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017