ham·string

(hăm′strĭng′)

1. Any of the tendons at the rear hollow of the human knee.

2. or hamstrings The hamstring muscle.

3. The large tendon in the back of the hock of a quadruped.

tr.v. ham·strung (-strŭng′), ham·string·ing, ham·strings

1. To cut the hamstring of (an animal or a person) and thereby cripple.

2. To destroy or hinder the efficiency of; frustrate: "These worthwhile books are often hamstrung by unimaginative formats and inaccurate art" (Don Lessem).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

hamstrung

adjective incapacitated, disabled, crippled, helpless, paralysed, at a loss, hors de combat (French) Now he knows what it's like to represent a hamstrung super-power.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

incapace

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

"Yes, but when once they are hamstrung, our necks will be strung next."

View in context

At present Emre, Kieron Dyer and Albert Luque are all hamstrung, while the United career of Aussie defender Craig Moore has also been hampered by the same problem.

And hamstring victim Bellamy also played no part in the UEFA Cup semi-final that year against Marseille along with Dyer and Lee Bowyer, also hamstrung.

Injuries are never straightforward

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