idioms
What does get a grip mean and where does it come from? I think it is usually addressed to someone who doesn't understand the obvious, like in the third paragraph of this book review:
I am amazed at the 1-star ratings by "intellectuals" who charge that this book stands on very shaky philosophic ground, and that it does not live up to the high caliber of true scientific studies into communication fundamentals and/or gender differences. Get a grip! That's not the purpose of the book!
This was show-biz parlance in the 1920s, and it referred to a show that closed quickly after opening. The most famous usage was by Variety (a show-biz newspaper) in 1929 after the stock market crashed: "Wall Street Lays An Egg"
Some sources I have seen say that the original meaning came from the number 0, which is what is put up on a scoreboard when a team fails to score. It resembles an egg, and is still today called a "goose egg," so by extension when a team scores zero it "lays an egg."
The phrase "in so many words" means:
Fig. exactly; explicitly; in plain, clear language.
The phrase was already in use by 1674, in A supplement to the morning-exercise at Cripple-gate:
As to its exact origins, it is possible that there was a shift from the literal meaning "in as many words" in which so many became a reference to some unknown number. There is not, however, an article I could find which explains when or why this phrase came into existence.
Best Answer
"Get a grip" actually has two meanings.
When a person has let their emotions take control of their actions and thoughts, often times people will tell them to "get a grip" - to get their emotions under control.
From thefreedictionary.com:
Additionally, "get a grip" can also refer to gaining an understanding:
As to the origination of the idiom, that I'm not sure of.