handcuffs

CEFRB2

/hˈæˌndkʌfs/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    Metal bands that join a person's wrists together.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    Any abstract constraint, such as rules, regulations, or lack of resources.

Examples

  • The police officer put handcuffs on the suspect.

  • The policeman wrestled the thief to the ground and put handcuffs on him.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
2
Citations
2

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A fastening consisting of two metal rings, designed to go around a person's wrists, and connected by a chain or hinge.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. third-person singular simple present indicative of handcuff

More examples

In context

  • I put handcuffs on him.

  • They complained that their rules of engagement were handcuffs that guaranteed counterproductivity.

  • Security is tight inside and outside the building, guarded by a bewildering collection of soldiers, policemen and gendarmes. Relatives watch as prisoners in handcuffs and leg irons shuffle past.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The police officer put blank on the criminal's wrists.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

1775, from hand + cuff (“end of shirtsleeve”). Possibly influenced by Old English handcops, from hand + cops (“fetter, chains”), but due to lack of continuity (centuries between Old English and modern term), generally analyzed as a re-invention.