Ball and chain
含义: One's spouse or long-term partner, humorously implying they restrict your freedom.
Calling your partner 'the ball and chain' is classic married-guy humor — joking that marriage feels like being shackled to a heavy weight. It's almost always meant as a joke, but it can be received poorly depending on who's listening. It's more common among older generations; younger Americans tend to find it dated or cringe.
例句
- I'd love to come to poker night, but the ball and chain says I have to stay home. 我很想去参加扑克之夜,但老婆大人说我得待在家里。Me encantaría ir a la noche de póker, pero la parienta dice que me quede en casa.ポーカーナイトに行きたいんだけど、カミさんが家にいろって言うんだよ。포커 모임에 가고 싶은데, 집사람이 집에 있으래.
- He always calls his wife the ball and chain, but everyone knows he's crazy about her. 他总是叫他老婆'铁链球',但大家都知道他其实超爱她。Siempre llama a su mujer la bola con cadena, pero todo el mundo sabe que está loco por ella.彼はいつも奥さんのことを「足枷」って呼ぶけど、実はベタ惚れなのはみんな知ってる。그는 항상 아내를 '족쇄'라고 부르지만 사실 그녀한테 푹 빠져 있는 건 다 알아.
- Can't make it to the game. Ball and chain has me doing yard work all weekend. 去不了看球赛了。老婆大人让我整个周末都在做园艺。No puedo ir al partido. La parienta me tiene haciendo trabajo de jardín todo el fin de semana.試合に行けないんだ。カミさんに週末ずっと庭仕事させられるから。경기에 못 가. 집사람이 주말 내내 마당 일을 시킨대.
发音
用法指南
语境: marriage humor, guys' night, comedy
语气: joking, self-deprecating
✓ 正确说法
- The ball and chain won't let me go out tonight. (joking)老婆大人今晚不让我出门。(开玩笑的)La parienta no me deja salir esta noche. (en broma)カミさんが今夜は外出禁止だって。(冗談で)집사람이 오늘 밤 외출을 안 시켜줘. (농담으로)
- He calls her the ball and chain but he's totally whipped.他管她叫铁链球,但他其实完全被她吃得死死的。La llama la bola con cadena pero está totalmente pillado.彼は奥さんのことを足枷って呼ぶけど、完全に尻に敷かれてるよ。그녀를 족쇄라고 부르지만 사실 완전 쥐어살고 있어.
✗ 错误说法
- Using this seriously (not as a joke) comes across as genuinely resentful of your partner如果是认真的而不是开玩笑地说,会让人觉得你真的怨恨你的伴侣Usarlo en serio (no como broma) da la impresión de resentimiento genuino hacia tu pareja冗談ではなく本気で使うと、パートナーへの不満を本当に感じているように聞こえる진심으로(농담이 아니라) 사용하면 파트너에 대한 진짜 불만처럼 들립니다
起源与历史
From the literal ball and chain used to restrain prisoners. Applied to marriage as dark humor since at least the 19th century. A staple of American stand-up comedy and sitcom humor, particularly in the mid-20th century.
文化背景
Era: 19th century onward
Generation: Gen X and older
Social background: Universal
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