 Re: Get hold of vs take hold of
Get hold of/take hold of :
a)If you are talking about physically getting/taking hold of something they're the same, though get is slightly more informal. So : You take hold of this end of the table and I'll get hold of the other.
b) But only get hold of can be used in the sense of contact : Get hold of David and tell him about the meeting. You can also get hold of an idea : I don't know where you got hold of the idea that I was American.
Catch hold of :
This is perhaps less usual. For me it implies getting hold of something very quickly. Catch hold of that cat before it gets up that tree!
Grab hold of : (note the spelling)
Again, this implies getting hold of something quickly and suddenly. It can be used to mean contact/talk to : Try and grab hold of Helen before she goes into the meeting and also for an idea you're really committed to : She grabbed hold of the idea of reorganising the department, and nothing we said could make her change her mind |