[General] ball and chain

[vil]

[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]

[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.