A ball and chain
noun
Heavy metal ball attached to a chain and fastened around a prisoner's feet to prevent escape.
The prisoner was attached to a ball and chain, making escape almost impossible.
noun
A person's spouse, especially when regarded as burdensome or restrictive.
He often complained about his wife being a ball and chain, restricting his freedom.
Often appears as...
- wife as a ball and chain
- husband as a ball and chain
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A serious drawback or something that restricts or obstructs progress.
The large debt was a ball and chain around the company's growth plans.
Often appears as...
- debt as a ball and chain
- restrictions as a ball and chain
Usage tips
Formal, Negative
Idiomatic
noun
Heavy metal ball attached to a chain and fastened around a prisoner's feet to prevent escape.
The prisoner was attached to a ball and chain, making escape almost impossible.
noun
A person's spouse, especially when regarded as burdensome or restrictive.
He often complained about his wife being a ball and chain, restricting his freedom.
Often appears as...
- wife as a ball and chain
- husband as a ball and chain
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Idiomatic
noun
A serious drawback or something that restricts or obstructs progress.
The large debt was a ball and chain around the company's growth plans.
Often appears as...
- debt as a ball and chain
- restrictions as a ball and chain
Usage tips
Formal, Negative
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Meaning
Understand it refers to a physical restraint used in prisons historically.
Museum displays often include old ball and chain devices.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Contemporary
Rarely used in a modern context except to explain old punishment methods.
The tour guide showed us a replica ball and chain from the 1800s.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Meaning
Understand it refers to a physical restraint used in prisons historically.
Museum displays often include old ball and chain devices.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Contemporary
Rarely used in a modern context except to explain old punishment methods.
The tour guide showed us a replica ball and chain from the 1800s.
Pro Tip 1/2Literal Meaning
Understand it refers to a physical restraint used in prisons historically.
Museum displays often include old ball and chain devices.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Contemporary
Rarely used in a modern context except to explain old punishment methods.
The tour guide showed us a replica ball and chain from the 1800s.
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