[General] ball and chain

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vil

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Sep 13, 2007
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Student or Learner
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Bulgarian
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Bulgaria
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[FONT=&quot]Dear teachers,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence? [/FONT]

“I didn’t even know he was married.”
“Married? You can hear than the chain and ball clanking! (J. Lindsay, "The Subtle Knot")

ball and chain = a burden and restraint, marital chain, marriage bonds

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.
 

riquecohen

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Aug 24, 2010
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English Teacher
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American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
[FONT=&quot]Dear teachers,[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Would you tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence? [/FONT]

“I didn’t even know he was married.”
“Married? You can hear than the chain and ball clanking! (J. Lindsay, "The Subtle Knot")

ball and chain = a burden and restraint, marital chain, marriage bonds

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.
Used jokingly to refer to a significant other, most often a wife. I would not say that a burden is necessarily implied.
 
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