Meaning of lay one's hands on in English:
lay one's hands on
phrase
(also lay hands on)
1Find or get something.
‘I read everything I could lay my hands on’- ‘I could not lay my hands on any textbooks.’
- ‘The national weightlifter has finally laid his hands on a medal.’
- ‘Help yourself to as much as you could possibly lay your hands on.’
- ‘Hundreds of customers elbowed their way forward in an attempt to lay their hands on the hottest deals of the year.’
- ‘They have failed to lay their hands on a major cup trophy in that four-year period.’
- ‘Police will investigate how he managed to lay his hands on the two-wheeler after it was seized earlier.’
- ‘Laying his hands on ingredients is not a problem.’
- ‘She didn't have a driving licence or a passport and couldn't lay her hands on any other picture identification.’
- ‘My morning routine consists of running a hairbrush through my bed hair and throwing on whatever minimal make-up I can lay my hands on.’
- ‘Such was his reticence that in searching years worth of archive photos from the club, I couldn't lay my hands on a single one of him.’
2Place one's hands on (someone), especially as an act of blessing or spiritual healing.
‘the service ended with the bishops laying hands on each of the victims’- ‘he laid his hands on the participants, praying over them one by one’
- ‘Jesus laid hands on lepers, teaching courage and love.’
- ‘He tried to bring back the "royal touch"—the already-antiquated notion that a king could lay hands on his subjects to cure them of diseases.’
- ‘He walked through the huge swarm of believers who thronged the event, praying for them and laying hands on them.’
- ‘Staff then laid hands on Mr Davis and prayed for him.’
- ‘They thought he was demonised, so we started laying hands on him.’
- ‘I see my husband laying hands on the sick and they're getting healed.’
- ‘Each priest may lay hands on the sick person.’
- ‘We have seen great works happen through the act of faith when the elders lay hands on the sick.’
- ‘The sick person is then anointed with oil and the elders lay hands on the ill while one prays.’
- ‘Those not afflicted began to lay hands on the ill members and pray over their bodies.’
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