What does the old ball and chain mean?

the old ball and chain. A jocular but disparaging term for a person's spouse or significant other who is thought to stifle the person in some way. Typically said of a wife or girlfriend. I'd love to come, but the old ball and chain is insisting we spend Saturday shopping for new furniture.

Regarding this, what does the idiom ball and chain mean?

ball and chain. A burden and restraint, as in Karen regarded her job as a ball and chain, but she needed the money. The term, dating from the early 1800s, alludes to chaining a heavy iron ball to a prisoner's leg. Later it was transferred to other kinds of restraining burden.

Subsequently, question is, what does Chain mean in slang? yank (one's) chain Definitions include: to deceive a person, usually in a playful manner.

People also ask, what does ball and chain mean in a relationship?

usage note for ball and chain In the meaning “romantic partner,” this term is consciously used for humorous or playful effect. But it is often perceived as insulting, implying that the partner is a burden or restriction on the other partner.

What does the idiom back to the basics mean?

back to basics. phrase. If you talk about getting back to basics, you are suggesting that people have become too concerned with complicated details or new theories, and that they should concentrate on simple, important ideas or activities. Nurtured carefully, the business can once again get back to basics.

31 Related Question Answers Found

What is slang for wife?

old lady (colloquial) old woman [WS] (colloquial) trouble. trouble and strife (Cockney rhyming slang) wife.

What is the ball and chain called?

The Curious Case of the Weapon that Didn't Exist. A military flail is a medieval weapon consisting of a short handle attached to a chain, at the end of which is a metal ball. This is not to be confused with a two-handed variant, often also called a flail, which derives from the threshing implement of the same name.

What does the idiom Big Apple mean?

Big Apple Meaning

The Big Apple colloquially refers to New York City. It is a nickname that can be used interchangeably with the official city name itself. For example, I'm going to New York City tomorrow. I'm going to the Big Apple tomorrow.

What does the idiom beeswax mean?

Something that is of no concern to another. This phrase is a less formal or serious version of "none of (one's) business." It's none of your beeswax why I left the party early the other night.

What does the idiom Bad Hair Day mean?

bad hair day. A day when one's appearance, especially one's hair, does not look attractive. Nothing, she's just having a bad hair day. Originating as a humorous statement, this term was soon broadened to mean simply having a bad day, that is, a day when everything seems to go wrong. [Late 1980s] Also see not one's day.

When were ball and chains used?

A ball and chain was a physical restraint device historically applied to prisoners, primarily in the British Empire and its former colonies, from the 17th century until as late as the mid-20th century.

What does it mean to earn brownie points?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Brownie points in modern usage are an imaginary social currency, which can be acquired by doing good deeds or earning favor in the eyes of another, often one's superior.

What does the blind leading the blind mean?

blind leading the blind. An expression applied to leaders who know as little as their followers and are therefore likely to lead them astray: “When it comes to science and technology, many politicians know as little as the average citizen; they're the blind leading the blind.”

What is chain man?

noun. The definition of a chainman is someone who works with a surveyor to measure distances. An example of a chainman is the man in the orange vest who helps measure a distance using a chain or tape measure. YourDictionary definition and usage example.

What is all ball?

1. This is term that a player uses as their defense when they have been called for a foul during a block attempt in basketball. The defensive player claims that they did not touch the offensive player and touched nothing but the ball and got a clean block. Examples Of How All Ball Is Used In Commentary.

What does it mean to dash someone?

dash someone's hopes. Destroy someone's plans, disappoint or disillusion. For example, That fall dashed her hopes of a gold medal. This term uses dash in the sense of “destroy,” a usage surviving only in this idiom. [

What does done your dash mean?

do (one's) dash

To do something to the fullest extent that one can. Primarily heard in Australia. Whew, I've done my dash!

Who Owns ball and chain?

Fuller is part-owner of Ball & Chain, and he partners with Pinilla on other businesses in Little Havana.

Who originally sang ball and chain?

Big Mama Thornton

What does chains emoji mean?

Meaning of ⛓ Chains Emoji

Chains emoji is used in many versatile situations. It can be used to express a tool or pully system in ?? Construction. It can also be used during ?? Halloween to epmhasize the spooky scary ?? Fun of the holiday with a ?? Jack-O-Lantern emoji.

What does chain up mean?

1. chain up - tie up with chains; "chain up the prisoners" tie down, tie up, truss, bind - secure with or as if with ropes; "tie down the prisoners"; "tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed" Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection.

What is off the chain?

off-the-chain. Adjective. (idiomatic) Free from work or direct supervision. In reference to slave labor, where workers are chained, or to the figurative chain of workers of an assembly line.