ball and chain
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ball and chain
noun
1.
a heavy iron ball fastened by a chain to a prisoner's leg.
2.
burdensome restraint: The steady accumulation of small debts was a ball and chain to his progress.
3.
Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a man's wife (often used facetiously).
Origin:
1825–35, Americanism
1825–35, Americanism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To ball and chain
Collins
World English Dictionary
| ball and chain | |
| —n | |
| 1. | (formerly) a heavy iron ball attached to a chain and fastened to a prisoner |
| 2. | a heavy restraint |
| 3. | slang a wife |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Ball and chain
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
ball and chain
A burden and restraint, as in Karen regarded her job as a ball and chain, but she needed the money. The term, dating from the early 1800s, alludes to chaining a heavy iron ball to a prisoner's leg. Later it was transferred to other kinds of restraining burden.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Others had to wear a ball and chain or were put in the stocks.
Carr will probably bo kept hereafter with a ball and chain attached to him.
The ball and chain was riveted around a prisoner's ankle.
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