lay hands on

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lay hands on (third-person singular simple present lays hands on, present participle laying hands on, simple past and past participle laid hands on)

1. (idiomatic) To find, obtain or procure.

   Synonyms: get one's hands on, get hold of

   If we can lay hands on some chicken wire and a black light, we can make some scary Halloween decorations.

   • 1981 February 14, Alexander Wilson, “The New Right Attacks Childhood Sexuality: A Canadian Perspective”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 29, page 6:

     After a long trial at which the Crown brought forward every right-wing bigot and crackpot psychiatrist they could lay hands on, The Body Politic was acquitted.

   • 2008, Sean Miller, Shveta Verma, Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory, page 111:

     What luck, right when I'd laid my hands on flight coupons; had my checkbook in the black!

2. (idiomatic) To seize or assault.
3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lay,‎ hands.

• laying on of hands
• lay on hands