get a grip

verb

1. To grip, as in: to take hold of, as with the hand.

   “But the bannock ran […] down the road to the next house, and in and snug by the fireside. The folk were just sitting down to their soup, and the goodwife scraping the pot. "Look," quoth she, "there's a wee bannock come in to warm itself at our fireside." "Shut the door," quoth the goodman, "and we'll try to get a grip of it." When the bannock heard that, it ran out of the house and they after it with their spoons, […]”

   “I attempted to get a grip in the snow with my frozen fingers, to stem myself with my heels, but with no success, […]”

2. To attain the understanding of a complex topic.

   “[…] the great antiquarian, Duald MacFirbis […], who was able to penetrate and get a grip of the long forgotten language of the ancient law tracts […]”

   “"Grogan, the truth is, I travel to keep away from New York. There I'm lost: too many friends. When I'm at sea I get away from it all and kind of get a grip on life again. You understand?"”

3. To come to one's senses and become more rational after having experienced a strong emotion.

   “He needs to get a grip if he's getting that angry over such a little thing.”

   “She made her innocent bow, and retired without a suspicion that she had been an embarrassment. Nothing would have happened, now, perhaps, if quiet could have been maintained for a few minutes, so that the people could get a grip upon themselves, but the strain overpowered my old maid partner and she exploded like a bomb; a general and unrestrained crash of laughter followed, of course, the happy tears flowed like brooks, and no one was sorry of the opportunity to laugh himself out and get the blessed relief that comes of that privilege in such circumstances.”