have a handle on | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Tounderstandorgrasp.To work efficiently, it's important tohave a handleon the procedures involved.; (idiomatic)To be incontrolof, to havepowerover.2003, Tony Hillerman,The Sinister Pig,→ISBN, page36:But the other three problems had all grown out of assigning jobs to people hehad no handle on.2011, H. Henrietta Stockel,Drumbeats from Mescalero,→ISBN, page82:We don't have to report to them anymore, but they stillhave a handle onour Justice Department and the police.

Examples:

EN: You never know, maybe somebody might have a handle on it.
ES: Nunca se sabe, tal vez alguien sepa dónde está.
EN: It took considerable research and surveillance... but I now think we have a handle on just how to do that.
ES: Hubo que investigar y vigilar bastante... pero creo que ya sabemos cómo hacerlo.
EN: I don't have a handle on christmas yet.
ES: todavía no la manejo
EN: I just wanted to give a few general characteristics so that we would all have a handle on what you are going to be up against.
ES: Sólo quería dar algunas características generales de manera que todos tendríamos una manija en lo que va a ser en contra.
EN: Just when you think you have a handle on how weird Eerie is during the day, the whole town does a belly flop at night.
ES: Justo cuando creías estar acostumbrado... a lo extraño que es Eerie en el día, La ciudad entera se pone patas arriba por la noche.
EN: I think I have a handle on some of it.
ES: ¿Qué no entendiste?
EN: - We have a handle on him now.
ES: - Lo tenemos controlado.
EN: I mean, every time I think I have a handle on you, you spring a new and disturbing surprise on me!
ES: ! Cada vez que pensaba que te comprendía,... brotaba una nueva sorpresa perturbadora.
EN: I think we have a handle on your problem.
ES: Creo que tengo una solución a tu problema.
EN: Just when I think I have a handle on things... something wholly unbelievable presents itself.
ES: Justo cuando pienso que entiendo lo que ocurre... algo completamente increíble se presenta.
EN: Does the factory manager have a handle on you or something?
ES: ¿El gerente de la fábrica te conoce o algo así?
EN: Why would a factory manager have a handle on me?
ES: ¿Por qué un gerente de fábrica me controlaría?
EN: Way to have a handle on things, Luke.
ES: Sabes lo que tienes entre las manos, Luke.
EN: Why didn't she have a handle on it by then?
ES: - ¿Por qué seguía sin hacerse cargo?
EN: Oh, well, he didn't want to rehearse today... but I do think I have a handle on what he's going through.
ES: Ah, pues, hoy no quiso ensayar... pero creo entender lo que está viviendo. NOTAS DEL DI RECTOR

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