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Napoleonponapa Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Words correction( to get a hold on somebody)
1) She got a hold on him and threatened to leak out the secrets.
2) She got a handle on him and threatened to leak out the secrets.
which one is the proper engish idiom? What I meant was she knew all the secrets of the man.
thank alot
2) She got a handle on him and threatened to leak out the secrets.
which one is the proper engish idiom? What I meant was she knew all the secrets of the man.
thank alot
Top answer
I don't think either one is natural. The use of "and" is incorrect, because the second clause is supposed to explain the first one. With two independent clauses, they could be totally unrelated.
- I don't think either one is natural.
- The use of "and" is incorrect, because the second clause is supposed to explain the first one.
- With two independent clauses, they could be totally unrelated.
- Also, the timing, or use of tenses, is unnatural.
- She had a hold on him because she knew certain secrets, which she occasionally threatened to leak out.
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3 Answers
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I don't think either one is natural.
The use of "and" is incorrect, because the second clause is supposed to explain the first one. With two independent clauses, they could be totally unrelated.
Also, the timing, or use of tenses, is unnatural.
She had a hold on him because she knew certain secrets, which she occasionally threatened to leak out.
The use of "and" is incorrect, because the second clause is supposed to explain the first one. With two independent clauses, they could be totally unrelated.
Also, the timing, or use of tenses, is unnatural.
She had a hold on him because she knew certain secrets, which she occasionally threatened to leak out.
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Hi Napoleonponapa
For me, neither one of your sentences means what you're trying to say.
I might possibly say this, for example:
- Because she knows all of his secrets, she has a hold on/over him.
To me, the expression "get a handle on" can refer to understanding someone/something or also to controlling something. However, with a meaning related to the idea of
For me, neither one of your sentences means what you're trying to say.
I might possibly say this, for example:
- Because she knows all of his secrets, she has a hold on/over him.
To me, the expression "get a handle on" can refer to understanding someone/something or also to controlling something. However, with a meaning related to the idea of
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Hi, Amy,
I didn't do much with "have a handle," as I don't usually think of it in terms of people.
But I agree, the expression is very common as applied to situations.
I usually think of it from the negative side. "I just can't seem to get a handle on this problem."
I didn't do much with "have a handle," as I don't usually think of it in terms of people.
But I agree, the expression is very common as applied to situations.
I usually think of it from the negative side. "I just can't seem to get a handle on this problem."
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