Straitjacket
noun
A jacket-like garment that fits tightly and secures the arms, used to control or constrain a person.
The patient was placed in a straitjacket to prevent him from hurting himself.
Often appears as...
- put in a straitjacket
- wear a straitjacket
noun
Something that restricts or confines like a straitjacket.
The country's economy is trapped in a straitjacket of international debt.
Often appears as...
- economic straitjacket
- political straitjacket
Usage tips
Formal
Idiomatic
noun
A jacket-like garment that fits tightly and secures the arms, used to control or constrain a person.
The patient was placed in a straitjacket to prevent him from hurting himself.
Often appears as...
- put in a straitjacket
- wear a straitjacket
noun
Something that restricts or confines like a straitjacket.
The country's economy is trapped in a straitjacket of international debt.
Often appears as...
- economic straitjacket
- political straitjacket
Usage tips
Formal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Mental Health Sensitivity
Use with care since 'straitjacket' can be sensitive due to its past psychiatric use.
In historical films, characters might be shown wearing straitjackets during an asylum scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorically Applied
The concept of a straitjacket can be used metaphorically to express extreme restriction.
This school's strict rules are like a straitjacket for creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Reference
Understanding its historical use as a restraint can add depth to modern uses of the term.
He described the new regulations as a metaphorical straitjacket.
Pro Tip 1/3Mental Health Sensitivity
Use with care since 'straitjacket' can be sensitive due to its past psychiatric use.
In historical films, characters might be shown wearing straitjackets during an asylum scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorically Applied
The concept of a straitjacket can be used metaphorically to express extreme restriction.
This school's strict rules are like a straitjacket for creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Reference
Understanding its historical use as a restraint can add depth to modern uses of the term.
He described the new regulations as a metaphorical straitjacket.
Pro Tip 1/3Mental Health Sensitivity
Use with care since 'straitjacket' can be sensitive due to its past psychiatric use.
In historical films, characters might be shown wearing straitjackets during an asylum scene.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorically Applied
The concept of a straitjacket can be used metaphorically to express extreme restriction.
This school's strict rules are like a straitjacket for creativity.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Reference
Understanding its historical use as a restraint can add depth to modern uses of the term.
He described the new regulations as a metaphorical straitjacket.
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Video examples
Agile programming -- for...
doing six months ago you're doing the wrong thing parents can learn a lot from that but to me adapt all the time means something deeper too we have to break parents out of this straitjacket that the only ideas we can try at home are ones that come from shrinks or self-help
Video examples
Bruce Feiler: Agile...
We have to break parents out of this straitjacket that the only ideas we can try at home are ones that come from shrinks or self-help gurus or other family experts. The truth is, their ideas are stale, whereas in all these other worlds there are these new ideas
Video examples
Locked Up in Venezuela...
till the lady go than not you're okay go and then they walked us down to the taxi paid the guy and walked off and that was the last time we've seen them it feels like a straitjacket to be honest with you you can't get out of it but it's
Video examples
Agile programming -- for...
doing six months ago you're doing the wrong thing parents can learn a lot from that but to me adapt all the time means something deeper too we have to break parents out of this straitjacket that the only ideas we can try at home are ones that come from shrinks or self-help
Video examples
Bruce Feiler: Agile...
We have to break parents out of this straitjacket that the only ideas we can try at home are ones that come from shrinks or self-help gurus or other family experts. The truth is, their ideas are stale, whereas in all these other worlds there are these new ideas
Video examples
Locked Up in Venezuela...
till the lady go than not you're okay go and then they walked us down to the taxi paid the guy and walked off and that was the last time we've seen them it feels like a straitjacket to be honest with you you can't get out of it but it's
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Kate Atkinson
English Author
I can't imagine what it would be like to write in a relaxed state. I'm going to be writing some stories for my own interest. I want to experiment with different things and see if I can approach writing with much less control and in a better psychological state. It will be like breaking out of a straitjacket.
Quote examples
Herbert A. Simon
American Economist
I realized that you could formulate theories about human and social phenomena in language and pictures and whatever you wanted on the computer, and you didn't have to go through this straitjacket, adding a lot of numbers.
Quote examples
Alexandra Fuller
English Author
I'm unconventional and eccentric and talk things out, and it seemed that the person I married - maybe in reaction - got quieter and more conventional over time. It felt as if we were putting each other in a straitjacket.
Quote examples
Lawrence M. Krauss
American Physicist
Feynman once said, 'Science is imagination in a straitjacket.' It is ironic that in the case of quantum mechanics, the people without the straitjackets are generally the nuts.
Quote examples
Joanna Lumley
English Actress
As Brits, we love a do, don't we? I adore our national celebrations. If I see a gold coach, you almost need to put me in a straitjacket, I get so excited.
Quote examples
Todd Haynes
American Director
My films have often looked at the whole dilemma of identity as a straitjacket for people, for societies, for cultures, for historical moments.
Quote examples
Tony Robinson
English Actor
I don't know much, but nor do I have the intellectual straitjacket that a lot of people inevitably pick up at university.
Quote examples
will.i.am
American Musician
Music is my therapy and my straitjacket. Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something. It's fragile up there.
Quote examples
Karl Kraus
Austrian Writer
Squeeze human nature into the straitjacket of criminal justice and crime will appear.
Quote examples
Daria Werbowy
Ukrainian Model
I can't analyse my appeal. If I did, I'd be in a straitjacket.
Quote examples
Kate Atkinson
English Author
I can't imagine what it would be like to write in a relaxed state. I'm going to be writing some stories for my own interest. I want to experiment with different things and see if I can approach writing with much less control and in a better psychological state. It will be like breaking out of a straitjacket.
Quote examples
Herbert A. Simon
American Economist
I realized that you could formulate theories about human and social phenomena in language and pictures and whatever you wanted on the computer, and you didn't have to go through this straitjacket, adding a lot of numbers.
Quote examples
Alexandra Fuller
English Author
I'm unconventional and eccentric and talk things out, and it seemed that the person I married - maybe in reaction - got quieter and more conventional over time. It felt as if we were putting each other in a straitjacket.
Quote examples
Lawrence M. Krauss
American Physicist
Feynman once said, 'Science is imagination in a straitjacket.' It is ironic that in the case of quantum mechanics, the people without the straitjackets are generally the nuts.
Quote examples
Joanna Lumley
English Actress
As Brits, we love a do, don't we? I adore our national celebrations. If I see a gold coach, you almost need to put me in a straitjacket, I get so excited.
Quote examples
Todd Haynes
American Director
My films have often looked at the whole dilemma of identity as a straitjacket for people, for societies, for cultures, for historical moments.
Quote examples
Tony Robinson
English Actor
I don't know much, but nor do I have the intellectual straitjacket that a lot of people inevitably pick up at university.
Quote examples
will.i.am
American Musician
Music is my therapy and my straitjacket. Music keeps me sane and keeps my mind on something. It's fragile up there.
Quote examples
Karl Kraus
Austrian Writer
Squeeze human nature into the straitjacket of criminal justice and crime will appear.
Quote examples
Daria Werbowy
Ukrainian Model
I can't analyse my appeal. If I did, I'd be in a straitjacket.
Example 1 of 10
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