ball and chain
Convict's leg weight
A ball and chain is a heavy metal sphere attached by a chain to a prisoner's ankle to prevent escape—an image from older penal systems.
The phrase now typically refers humorously or disparagingly to a spouse, especially a wife, or to any burdensome obligation that restricts freedom: I'd love to go out, but the ball and chain has other plans.
Metal limb restraint
- fetterAnkle chain for prisoners
- manacleWrist restraint, usually paired
- ironElement twenty-six
- prisonerConfined criminal detainee
convict · dungeon · bondage · captivity · restraint · leg iron · cell · incarceration
Hindrance or legal claim
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- yokeCrosspiece binding draft animals
- hindranceBarrier to progress
weight · liability · obligation · drag · anchor · impediment · restriction · limitation
shackle
Metal limb restraint
prisoner · convict · dungeon · bondage · captivity · restraint · leg iron · cell · incarceration · jailer
encumbrance
Hindrance or legal claim
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- yokeCrosspiece binding draft animals
hindrance · weight · liability · obligation · drag · anchor · impediment · restriction · limitation · oppression
wife
Female marriage partner
commitment · wedlock · domestic · nagging · tied · settled · matrimony · hitched · spoken for · better half
- Marriage Sayingshappy wife happy life, for better or worse, til death do us part, wedded bliss, better half
- flexible weaponsflail, nunchaku, nunchucks, bolas, bolo
- burdensburden, load, onus, obligations, weight
- imprisonmentprison, jail, prisoners, cells, captivity
- bludgeonsclub, mace, cudgel, bludgeon, truncheon
- gender stereotypesboys will be boys, pink for girls, blue for boys, man up, strong men
ball and chainfreedom
Absence of constraint
liberty · free as a bird · independence · emancipation · autonomy
ball and chainbachelor
Unwed male adult
bachelorette · single life · footloose and fancy-free · bachelorhood · unattached
ball and chainwings
Limbs for flight
unburdened · blessing · weightlessness · lightness · asset
ball, chain, balls, chains, football, chained, basketball, volleyball, unchain