have a handle on

The idiom "have a handle on" suggests understanding or controlling a situation effectively.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To understand the details or complexities of something.

Example

  • She finally has a handle on the new software.
  • It took a while, but I now have a handle on the project requirements.

B2General

(informal)To be in control of a situation or task.

Example

  • After the training, he felt he had a handle on his new responsibilities.
  • Do you have a handle on the budget for this month?

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "have a handle on":

get to grips withget one's arms aroundget a griplay hands oncome to gripsget one's hands onput one's hands onget hold ofgrab handlelay hold ofbe seized ofknow one's way aroundtake holdunder controlwrap one's head aroundhave itupper handhave it going onhold ontohold withlay a glove oncome to handon the ballhandle oneselfon someone's handshave onhave had ithave a thing