Explaining sentences

Question

He reached out, but there was no one to take hold of.I reached out and grabbed onto the first thing I could get hold of.Can you please explain the meaning of these sentences?

GPY · Accepted Answer

get/take hold of something = grasp something with your hand(s)

Anonymous · Answer

In the first sentence, the person is reaching his hand out, anticipating that there will be a person there to grab his hand - but there is no one to grab hold of. An example of usage:

His was the last lifeboat to be lowered, and he was the last person to get in, having been instrumental in helping everyone else get on. But as the boat hit the water, a large swell knocked him off. He couldn't swim, and he reached out desperately for someone to grab on to, but the swells had put 15 feet between him and the boat and there was no one to take hold of.

In the second sentence, the person is reaching out with his hand for anything to grab hold of - here there are no other people around and anything will do to grab hold of. An example of usage:

I lost my footing and started tumbling down the mountain. I knew I was approaching a ledge with a 300 foot drop, and I desperately reached out and grabbed onto the first thing I could get hold of - a clump of sturdy weeds. It held, and I was then able to gradually crawl my way back up the slope.

Jumanah · Answer

Thank you very much.
But I just want to ask about the meaning of "reach out"
In this sentence?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Jumanah the meaning of "reach out"

It means to move your hand away from your body towards an object.

They are reaching out to each other.

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