Word
handcuff
Phoneticshand·cuff, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhændˌkəf/
UK/hˈændkʌf/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a metal ring with a lock that police use to join a person's wrists together to stop them escaping.
n. a pair of lockable metal restraints joined by a chain or bar, designed to secure the wrists together. Typically used by law enforcement to restrain a suspect.
Examples
“The officer locks a handcuff around the man's wrist.”
“After the arrest, the officers secure the suspect's hands with handcuffs and lead him to the patrol car.”
“The detective produced a worn pair of handcuffs that had restrained countless suspects over two decades of night shifts in the city.”
Examples
simple
“The officer locks a handcuff around the man's wrist.”
contextual
“After the arrest, the officers secure the suspect's hands with handcuffs and lead him to the patrol car.”
complex
“The detective produced a worn pair of handcuffs that had restrained countless suspects over two decades of night shifts in the city.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “handcuff” in context.
Verb
01. arrive in handcuffs
“The prisoner arrived in handcuffs with two guards beside him.”
verb + prep + noun
02. be in handcuffs
“The suspect was in handcuffs when he arrived at the station.”
verb + prep + noun
03. escape from handcuffs
“The thief tried to escape from handcuffs but failed.”
verb + prep + noun
04. put in handcuffs
“The police put the thief in handcuffs and took him away.”
verb + prep + noun
05. remove handcuffs
“The police removed the handcuffs after checking his ID.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. metal handcuffs
“The police used strong metal handcuffs to restrain the suspect.”
adj + noun
07. plastic handcuffs
“The officers used light plastic handcuffs during the protest.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. key to handcuffs
“The guard lost the small key to the handcuffs.”
noun + prep + noun
09. pair of handcuffs
“The officer took a pair of handcuffs from his belt.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a pair of handcuffs
“The policeman was holding a pair of handcuffs in his hand.”
11. be led away in handcuffs
“The suspect was led away in handcuffs by two officers.”
12. put someone in handcuffs
“The police put the driver in handcuffs after the chase.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural 'handcuffs' for the pair; the singular refers to one wrist restraint.
Real-World Examples
“A Minnesota man told Reuters on Monday he felt fear, shame and desperation a day after ICE officers broke down his door with guns drawn, handcuffed him and forced him outside into the snow wearing shorts and Crocs.” “For decades, police across the United States have been warned that the common tactic of handcuffing someone facedown could turn deadly if officers pin them on the ground with too much pressure or for too long.” “A video of police handcuffing two boys during a search for a knife in northern England has been falsely captioned online as boys being arrested for fishing.” “CHICAGO (AP) — Royal Smart remembers every detail: the feeling of the handcuffs on his wrists.” Etymology
From hand + cuff (“end of shirtsleeve”). Possibly an adaptation of Middle English handcops (“shackles for the hand, handcuffs”), from Old English handcops, from hand + cops, cosp (“fetter, chains”), but due to a lack of continuity (centuries between Old English and the modern term), generally analyzed as a re-invention. Nominal form first appears c. 1591 in the publications of John Florio. Verbal form first appears c. 1649.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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