ball and chain
noun
: something that limits one's freedom or ability to do things
Drugs are a ball and chain for many people.
(old-fashioned) He referred to his wife as "the ball and chain."
Examples of ball and chain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In addition to the Cash memorabilia and hanging ropes, exhibits include an actual ball and chain used to restrain prisoners, along with handmade prison weapons and a prisoner art project from the 1930s that used 250,000 toothpicks to make a model of a Ferris wheel.
—
Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025
He had been arrested in May 1863 and forced to walk hobbled by ball and chain from central L.A. to the Drum Barracks at the harbor.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Jamie Hawkesworth / Courtesy of The Row The ole’ ball and chain at Alexander McQueen
Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
A little bejeweled tiger at Luar.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
Indianapolis residents will likely need to break out an umbrella Tuesday, Feb. 27, and potentially a weighted ball and chain, according to NWS.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly as Kill Bill characters Gogo Yubari and the Bride
Megan Fox brought her ball and chain — and fiancé Machine Gun Kelly — to the Casamigos Halloween party, dressing up as Gogo and the Bride from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.
—EW.com, 28 Oct. 2023
It’s inspired by the silhouette of the fertility goddess and comes with a matching ottoman, resembling a ball and chain, which is rife with meaning.
—Talia Abbas, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2023
The muses for this enigmatic presence range from Paltrow (the indisputable leading avatar of this trend) and the Queen B to lawyer Amal Clooney and billionaire businesswoman Akshata Murthy, whose old ball and chain happens to be current British prime minister Rishi Sunak.
—Max Berlinger, Robb Report, 18 June 2023
Property taxes can be a ball and chain for San Antonio homeowners — especially in neighborhoods where property values have been rising fast.
—Marc Duvoisin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Mar. 2023
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Sharon Bernstein, Sacramento Bee, 7 Jan. 2025
He had been arrested in May 1863 and forced to walk hobbled by ball and chain from central L.A. to the Drum Barracks at the harbor.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Jamie Hawkesworth / Courtesy of The Row The ole’ ball and chain at Alexander McQueen
Courtesy of Alexander McQueen
A little bejeweled tiger at Luar.
—Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024
Indianapolis residents will likely need to break out an umbrella Tuesday, Feb. 27, and potentially a weighted ball and chain, according to NWS.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 26 Feb. 2024
Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly as Kill Bill characters Gogo Yubari and the Bride
Megan Fox brought her ball and chain — and fiancé Machine Gun Kelly — to the Casamigos Halloween party, dressing up as Gogo and the Bride from Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.
—EW.com, 28 Oct. 2023
It’s inspired by the silhouette of the fertility goddess and comes with a matching ottoman, resembling a ball and chain, which is rife with meaning.
—Talia Abbas, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2023
The muses for this enigmatic presence range from Paltrow (the indisputable leading avatar of this trend) and the Queen B to lawyer Amal Clooney and billionaire businesswoman Akshata Murthy, whose old ball and chain happens to be current British prime minister Rishi Sunak.
—Max Berlinger, Robb Report, 18 June 2023
Property taxes can be a ball and chain for San Antonio homeowners — especially in neighborhoods where property values have been rising fast.
—Marc Duvoisin, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Ball and chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball%20and%20chain. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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