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ball and chain

 - 2 dictionary results

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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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