Handcuff
noun
A pair of metal rings attached to a chain that are put on a criminal's wrists to limit their movement.
The police officer put the handcuffs on the thief.
Often appears as...
- handcuff to
- put on handcuffs
verb
To use handcuffs to restrict someone's movement.
The policeman handcuffed the suspect to the railing.
Often appears as...
- handcuff to
- handcuff together
verb
To restrict someone's freedom or movement.
The strict rules handcuffed the team's creativity.
Often appears as...
- handcuff by
- handcuff with
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A pair of metal rings attached to a chain that are put on a criminal's wrists to limit their movement.
The police officer put the handcuffs on the thief.
Often appears as...
- handcuff to
- put on handcuffs
verb
To use handcuffs to restrict someone's movement.
The policeman handcuffed the suspect to the railing.
Often appears as...
- handcuff to
- handcuff together
verb
To restrict someone's freedom or movement.
The strict rules handcuffed the team's creativity.
Often appears as...
- handcuff by
- handcuff with
Usage tips
Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Law Enforcement
Used by police or security to restrain a person's hands.
During the arrest, the officer secured the suspect with handcuffs.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Restraint
Implies limited movement and control, often enforced to prevent escape.
The handcuffs kept the prisoners from using their hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Safety Measure
Used for safety to stop individuals from harming themselves or others.
The unruly detainee was handcuffed for everyone's safety.
Pro Tip 1/3Law Enforcement
Used by police or security to restrain a person's hands.
During the arrest, the officer secured the suspect with handcuffs.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Restraint
Implies limited movement and control, often enforced to prevent escape.
The handcuffs kept the prisoners from using their hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Safety Measure
Used for safety to stop individuals from harming themselves or others.
The unruly detainee was handcuffed for everyone's safety.
Pro Tip 1/3Law Enforcement
Used by police or security to restrain a person's hands.
During the arrest, the officer secured the suspect with handcuffs.
Pro Tip 2/3Physical Restraint
Implies limited movement and control, often enforced to prevent escape.
The handcuffs kept the prisoners from using their hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Safety Measure
Used for safety to stop individuals from harming themselves or others.
The unruly detainee was handcuffed for everyone's safety.
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Video examples
Alice Goffman: How we're...
to basically never do anything wrong. Why are we not providing support to young kids facing these challenges? Why are we offering only handcuffs, jail time and this fugitive existence? Can we imagine something better? Can we imagine a criminal justice system that prioritizes recovery,
Video examples
Arrested in Pakistan PIPE...
Embassy this little guy says to me embassy can't help you we're gonna hang you after the five o'clock prayer I'm terrified at this moment and I can't believe this is happening to me someone tells you they're gonna kill you can we put the handcuffs on you now no one
Video examples
Surviving Prison in...
know, start a new life, build the relationship back up with my dad. And here I was. My dad would find out the hard way when any word got around about what had just happened. You know, I was just left handcuffed to this bed. And I was there all night.
Video examples
The biology of our best...
He lunges for his Luger. I knock it out of his hand. He lunges for his cyanide pill. I knock that out of his hand. He snarls, comes at me with otherworldly strength. We grapple, we fight, I manage to pin him down and put on handcuffs.
Video examples
My photographs bear...
was punished by being handcuffed to a post in the midday sun. This experience raised a lot of questions, among them questions about race and equality and for whom in our country opportunities and options are available.
Video examples
Vampires: Is It Real? PIPE...
her blood out into a beaker but why he said that he was a vampire and that he drank up the blood the nightmare continued for hours in between feedings the kidnapper kept her handcuffed in the bathtub it was through
Video examples
Kids Behind Bars PIPE...
prison Chavez will have to find inmates he can ally himself with for protection but it's hard to know who he can trust I sense I'm gonna get beat up here seen a couple people dragged out in handcuffs
Video examples
The harm reduction model...
How do I explain to people that drug users deserve care and support and the freedom to live their lives when all we see are images of guns and handcuffs and jail cells? Let's be
Video examples
Stories: Legacies of who...
Ouch! I don't care! Take me to jail." They dragged her off the bus. Next thing, Claudette Colvin was in a car seat, backseat of the police car, handcuffed through the windows.
Video examples
How judges can show...
It's true. People come before me handcuffed, drug-sick, depressed, hungry and mentally ill. When I saw that their need for help
Video examples
Alice Goffman: How we're...
to basically never do anything wrong. Why are we not providing support to young kids facing these challenges? Why are we offering only handcuffs, jail time and this fugitive existence? Can we imagine something better? Can we imagine a criminal justice system that prioritizes recovery,
Video examples
Arrested in Pakistan PIPE...
Embassy this little guy says to me embassy can't help you we're gonna hang you after the five o'clock prayer I'm terrified at this moment and I can't believe this is happening to me someone tells you they're gonna kill you can we put the handcuffs on you now no one
Video examples
Surviving Prison in...
know, start a new life, build the relationship back up with my dad. And here I was. My dad would find out the hard way when any word got around about what had just happened. You know, I was just left handcuffed to this bed. And I was there all night.
Video examples
The biology of our best...
He lunges for his Luger. I knock it out of his hand. He lunges for his cyanide pill. I knock that out of his hand. He snarls, comes at me with otherworldly strength. We grapple, we fight, I manage to pin him down and put on handcuffs.
Video examples
My photographs bear...
was punished by being handcuffed to a post in the midday sun. This experience raised a lot of questions, among them questions about race and equality and for whom in our country opportunities and options are available.
Video examples
Vampires: Is It Real? PIPE...
her blood out into a beaker but why he said that he was a vampire and that he drank up the blood the nightmare continued for hours in between feedings the kidnapper kept her handcuffed in the bathtub it was through
Video examples
Kids Behind Bars PIPE...
prison Chavez will have to find inmates he can ally himself with for protection but it's hard to know who he can trust I sense I'm gonna get beat up here seen a couple people dragged out in handcuffs
Video examples
The harm reduction model...
How do I explain to people that drug users deserve care and support and the freedom to live their lives when all we see are images of guns and handcuffs and jail cells? Let's be
Video examples
Stories: Legacies of who...
Ouch! I don't care! Take me to jail." They dragged her off the bus. Next thing, Claudette Colvin was in a car seat, backseat of the police car, handcuffed through the windows.
Video examples
How judges can show...
It's true. People come before me handcuffed, drug-sick, depressed, hungry and mentally ill. When I saw that their need for help
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Helene Yorke
I typically, with my work, like to approach it in a bigger way. That's sort of how I am. And I remember when I was getting into television, the handcuff that gets put on you right away, especially when you're a theater kid, is, 'Be smaller, be smaller, be smaller.
Quote examples
Carmen Miranda
Portuguese Musician
I've chosen my wedding ring large and heavy to continue forever. But exactly because of that all the time that Dave and I have an argument I feel it like handcuffs, and on anger time I throw it in a basket. Poor Dave, he bought me three wedding rings already!
Quote examples
Ruben Fleischer
American Director
If you have somebody who can just do everything easily, then it's kind of boring. If you're handcuffed to a chair and you've got to fight while your handcuffed, or something like that, it just adds a cool element.
Quote examples
James Altucher
American Author
The only way to make real wealth is to get rid of your salary. In a salary, by definition, you are creating wealth for others, and you are creating a chain and handcuffs for yourself.
Quote examples
Frances McDormand
American Actress
Unfortunately, any girl - unless you're playing the action hero - is going to end up at some point handcuffed, gagged, and waiting for the hero to save her.
Quote examples
Darryl Glenn
American Politician
I told the truth when I said I have never been arrested. I have never been handcuffed or fingerprinted. I have never appeared in court as a defendant.
Quote examples
Natasha Lyonne
American Actress
As wild as I was, when the cops show up, and suddenly you're being handcuffed, it's so deeply shocking and terrifying, the loss of freedom.
Quote examples
Gary Zukav
American Author
Commitment and creativity cannot be captured and handcuffed. Inspiration cannot be jailed. The heart cannot be contained.
Quote examples
Regina Brett
American Journalist
The last watch I wore felt like a handcuff. When I need to know the time, I check my cell phone.
Quote examples
Ilya Yashin
Russian Activist
I can't predict whether I'll leave here freely or in handcuffs.
Quote examples
Helene Yorke
I typically, with my work, like to approach it in a bigger way. That's sort of how I am. And I remember when I was getting into television, the handcuff that gets put on you right away, especially when you're a theater kid, is, 'Be smaller, be smaller, be smaller.
Quote examples
Carmen Miranda
Portuguese Musician
I've chosen my wedding ring large and heavy to continue forever. But exactly because of that all the time that Dave and I have an argument I feel it like handcuffs, and on anger time I throw it in a basket. Poor Dave, he bought me three wedding rings already!
Quote examples
Ruben Fleischer
American Director
If you have somebody who can just do everything easily, then it's kind of boring. If you're handcuffed to a chair and you've got to fight while your handcuffed, or something like that, it just adds a cool element.
Quote examples
James Altucher
American Author
The only way to make real wealth is to get rid of your salary. In a salary, by definition, you are creating wealth for others, and you are creating a chain and handcuffs for yourself.
Quote examples
Frances McDormand
American Actress
Unfortunately, any girl - unless you're playing the action hero - is going to end up at some point handcuffed, gagged, and waiting for the hero to save her.
Quote examples
Darryl Glenn
American Politician
I told the truth when I said I have never been arrested. I have never been handcuffed or fingerprinted. I have never appeared in court as a defendant.
Quote examples
Natasha Lyonne
American Actress
As wild as I was, when the cops show up, and suddenly you're being handcuffed, it's so deeply shocking and terrifying, the loss of freedom.
Quote examples
Gary Zukav
American Author
Commitment and creativity cannot be captured and handcuffed. Inspiration cannot be jailed. The heart cannot be contained.
Quote examples
Regina Brett
American Journalist
The last watch I wore felt like a handcuff. When I need to know the time, I check my cell phone.
Quote examples
Ilya Yashin
Russian Activist
I can't predict whether I'll leave here freely or in handcuffs.
Example 1 of 10
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