# lay hands on

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/lay-hands-on
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To find, obtain, or procure.

## Examples

- I cannot lay hands on my keys anywhere.
- The book is out of print, so it is difficult to lay hands on a copy.
- After searching through the dusty archives for hours, the researcher finally managed to lay hands on the original documents needed to complete his study.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.