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 Moreover, the move comes at a time when other retailers look to get a handle on their vanishing inventory. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 18 Mar. 2024 With that said, to get a handle on attention residue, implement focused work blocks, set boundaries around technology usage, and schedule uninterrupted time for deep work. Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 With that in mind, businesses need to make sure their IT and cyber experts have a handle on how AI is influencing the space and consider hiring additional support if needed. Melissa Russell, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Some schools are also trying to get a handle on the sudden influx of e-bikes on and around campus, including some requiring a permit to ride one to school. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Nedeljkovic made 28 saves but couldn’t get a handle on Pelech's winner. Will Graves, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024 Now that global regulators and stakeholders are starting to get serious about addressing not only emissions, but also the biogeophysical effects of business activities on natural ecosystems, businesses are scrambling to get a handle on a whole new class of environmental risks and opportunities. Mary Foley, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The leak will only up the stakes for Fulton County to get a handle on a cyberattack that has hobbled services for weeks. Sean Lyngaas, CNN, 14 Feb. 2024 But increasingly, state and local officials — under growing pressure to get a handle on sprawling encampments and jarring public displays of human suffering — are turning toward more forceful measures to move people off the street. Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'get/have a handle on.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Get/have a handle on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%2Fhave%20a%20handle%20on. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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