get/have a handle on

idiom

informal

: to understand and be able to deal with (something)

I can't quite get a handle on the way this machine works.

It seemed like she had a good handle on the situation.

Examples of get/have a handle on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One of the best ways to get a handle on a new travel destination is through its cuisine. —Sofia Perez, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025

Here are three ways to get a handle on your debt despite economic headwinds, according to experts. —Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 5 July 2025

The Simi Valley Police Department urged members of the public to avoid the area as fire crews worked to get a handle on the blaze. —Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025

School districts across the state are spending money on tools like THC and vape detectors to try to get a handle on this, said Chris Lagoni, executive director of the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 July 2025