The antonyms for the phrase "are unable to lay hands on" are plentiful. Some of the most commonly used antonyms for the expression include acquiring, obtaining, finding, locating, and securing. These terms are all used to describe the act of obtaining something that was previously out of reach or hard to find. Other antonyms for the phrase include coming across, gaining possession of, getting hold of, discovering, and attaining. All of these expressions imply that the object or item in question has been found or attained in some way, indicating that the search for it has been successful.