Get a bit of a grip on a snake (5)
I believe the answer is:
grasp
'get' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'a bit of a grip on a snake' is the wordplay.
'a bit of' suggests taking the first letters.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a snake' becomes 'rasp' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
The initial letter of 'grip' is 'g'.
'g'+'rasp'='GRASP'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for grasp that I've seen before include "Firmly grip" , "Get hold of firmly" , "Seize, hold firmly" , "Take hold of firmly" , "Follow - understand - seize" .)