ball and chain

Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia

0.01 sec.

ball and chain

1. a wife. (Mostly jocular.) I've got to get home to my ball and chain. My ball and chain is mad at me.

2. a person's special burden; a job. (Prisoners sometimes were fettered with a chain attached to a leg on one end and to a heavy metal ball on the other.) Tom wanted to quit his job. He said he was tired of that old ball and chain. Mr. Franklin always referred to his wife as his ball and chain.

See also: and, ball, chain

Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.

?Page tools

Printer friendly
Cite / link

Feedback

References in periodicals archive	?		Idioms browser	?		Full browser	?
Byline: DON MACKAY RELEASED mercenary Simon Mann celebrates his freedom with a kiss from the old ball and chain - his wife Amanda. MANN & WIFE; Released into her arms by The Mirror (London, England) The year he waited for the hangman, he was forced to wear a ball and chain wherever he went. San Quentin, 1900 by Miller, William / African American Review Monsieur Sarkozy trades in the ole ball and chain for tarte tatin Carla Bruni, a younger model (at Euro-Disney, no less: Can you smell the envy emanating from a certain ex-U. Thursday, January 3rd by Meredith Bryan / The New York Observer			badger into badger to death badly bag bag and baggage Bag it! bag of bones bag of tricks bag on Bag that! bail bail out bail out of jail bait bait and switch balance balance against balance out balance the accounts balance with bald bald as a coot baleful as death balk at ball ball and chain ball of fire ball up balled up balloon ballpark ballpark figure balls of feet ban from banana band band together bandage up bandwagon bandy bandy about bandy with bang bang against bang around bang at bang away bang for the buck Bang goes! bang in bang into			Balkingly Balkingly Balkingly Balkingly Balkis Balkis Balkish balkline Balkline and straight rail balks balks balks balks balky balky ball ball ball ball ball ball ball & socket ball & socket joint Ball (anatomy) Ball (baseball statistics) Ball (mathematics) Ball Aerospace and Technology Corporation Ball Aerospace Systems Division Ball Aerospace Systems Group Ball ammunition ball and chain Ball and Chain (disambiguation) Ball and Chain (disambiguation) ball and chains ball and chains Ball and Claw Pattern ball and cross ball and flower ball and flower Ball and Ring Hitch Lock Ball and socket Ball and socket Ball and socket joint Ball and socket joint Ball and socket joint Ball and socket joints Ball and Socket Upper Bearing ball bearing ball bearing ball bearing ball bearing ball bearing Ball Bearing Joint Ball bearings Ball bearings Ball bering Ball bering Ball bonding ball boy ball boy ball breaker

Idioms and phrases

Free Tools:	For surfers: Free toolbar & extensions \| Word of the Day \| Help For webmasters: Free content \| Linking \| Lookup box \| Double-click lookup

Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.