Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

ball and chain

 noun
     
ball and chain [singular]
1 something that limits your freedom and stops you from doing what you want to do:
The lower-tech side of the business was seen as a ball and chain.
2 a heavy metal ball on a chain, tied to a prisoner's legs, to stop the prisoner from escaping
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
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