lay one's hands on

Much harder to lay one’s hands on a wild bull, a basilisk or a wolf.

The events of the last 15 years have not only filled such places with terror, they have also advertised to all the world’s people that the only way to enjoy the legal protections supposedly accruing to all human beings – even and especially in the eyes of the militarised west – is to lay one’s hands on a western passport.

But that concerns not me; matters may turn out as the foul fiend pleases for aught I care, so long as there are good oars to be had, and something to lay one's hands on.

Of course, Robbins, of course; and you shall have it all back; but you see, Robbins, it is not always easy to lay one’s hands on a few pounds to give to my son.

The water is so crystal-clear it seems as though one could lay one's hands on strange coloured fish and coral beds at any depth.