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

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Kelce is still playing for the Kansas City Chiefs but is of course even better known to the masses as Taylor Swift’s ball and chain. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 Oct. 2026 Two decades later, hair color has become my old ball and chain. — Beth Sobol, Flow Space, 2 Oct. 2026 The substance that once was euphoric becomes a proverbial ball and chain. — Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026 The old ball and chain The first issue is that the game, although functional in most of its action, is clunky. — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ball and chain

Rhymes for ball and chain

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Browse Nearby Words

ballan
ball and chain
ball-and-claw foot
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Cite this Entry

“Ball and chain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball%20and%20chain. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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