ball and chain

plural balls and chains

1. A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint.

   In those days a prisoner here had to carry his ball and chain when he was walking to the chow hall.

   2 more examples

   Well, I got one foot on the platform / The other foot on the train / I'm goin' back to New Orleans / To wear that ball and chain

   1964, “The House of the Rising Sun”, performed by The Animals

   Take away this ball and chain

   1990, Mike Ness, “Ball and Chain”, performed by Social Distortion

2. derogatoryslangOne's spouse, especially a wife, as a symbol of restraint.

   I'll have to ask the old ball and chain and get back to you.

   1 more example

   Near-synonyms: other half (neutral valence), better half (positive valence)

   Synonyms: other half, better half

3. figurativelyAnything that restricts one's freedom or opportunities.

   His boss turned his conscientiousness into a ball and chain by giving him all the hard jobs.

   2 more examples

   Their business model of the 1920s and 1930s, which had catapulted the business to undreamt-of heights, had then turned into something of a ball and chain.

   2011, John Bradley, Cadbury's Purple Reign: The Story Behind Chocolate's Best-Loved Brand

   Now 2015 feels like a very long time ago, and the charitable origins have turned into a ball and chain for OpenAI.

   2025 May 30, Matteo Wong, “OpenAI Can Stop Pretending”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 04 Jun 2025