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ball and chain

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.04 sec.
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 one's wife
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.ball and chainball and chain - heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner by a chain
hamper, shackle, trammel, bond - a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)


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If I could capture that spectrum the atomic neon sign of your lost wonder and feed it to you on a spoon when your lonely vigil against poverty and incompetence becomes ball and chain I'd give up my own food stand with my back to the solar wind close my eyes to beauty to keep you warm.
Quark Soup by Lazar, Aaron Paul / Reviewer's Bookwatch
Therefore we provide no value-added and are simply a ball and chain slowing our organizations down.
To speed it up, size it down by Mounce, Gabe / Defense AT & L
I'd love to be able to take just one pill a day, because right now treatment is like a ball and chain that's always with me," Kusler says.
Anticipating the once-a-day pill: a new daily anti-HIV pill is likely ... by Adams, Bob / The Advocate (The national gay & lesbian newsmagazine)
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