take hold of

take (a)hold of (someone or something)

1. To grasp or seize someone or something in one's hands. Take hold of this rope and lower yourself out the window. He took ahold of the box and carried it out of the building. I tried to take ahold of her before she fell off the step, but it happened too fast.

2. To gain control over someone or something. Panic took hold of the entire country after the government declared war on the neighboring nations. You've got to calm down. You can't let fear take ahold of you like this.

See also: of, take

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

take hold of someone or something

to grasp someone or something. He took hold of the child, which frightened her very much. Terry took hold of the doorknob and turned it.

See also: hold, of, take

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.