ball and chain
noun
Forms balls and chains
- noun A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint. “In those days a prisoner here had to carry his ball and chain when he was walking to the chow hall.”
- noun (slang, derogatory) One's spouse, especially a wife, as a symbol of restraint. “I'll have to ask the old ball and chain and get back to you.”
- noun (figurative) Anything that restricts one's freedom or opportunities. “His boss turned his conscientiousness into a ball and chain by giving him all the hard jobs.”
Synonyms
Sources: Wiktionary — from the Wiktionary entry “ball and chain”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details