# handcuffs

/ˈhændˌkəfs/ (US) · /hˈændkʌfs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/handcuffs
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. metal wrist restraints

noun · CEFR B1

two metal rings joined by a chain that are locked around a person's wrists to stop them from moving their hands.

For teachers: a pair of metal rings, typically connected by a short chain or hinge, designed to be locked around the wrists of a person under arrest.

- The police officer put handcuffs on the suspect before leading him to the car.
- The suspect sat silently in the back of the patrol car, his wrists secured by heavy steel handcuffs that rattled with every turn.

### 2. figurative constraints

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

rules or situations that stop you from acting freely or doing what you want.

For teachers: abstract or systemic constraints, such as regulations or financial limitations, that impede free action.

- The new company rules were like golden handcuffs that kept him from leaving.
- The department head complained that the budget cuts were administrative handcuffs, preventing any meaningful innovation for the upcoming fiscal year.

### 3. to restrain someone

verb · CEFR B2

to put handcuffs on someone or to stop them from moving freely.

For teachers: to secure a person's wrists with handcuffs; by extension, to render someone powerless or to restrict their ability to act.

- The guards had to handcuff the prisoner during the long flight.
- The new regulations effectively handcuff the local government, making it nearly impossible for them to allocate funds to emergency services.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The police officer put handcuffs on the suspect.
- After a brief chase, the officer caught the thief and quickly secured the handcuffs behind the man's back.
- The suspect sat quietly in the back of the patrol car, his wrists bound by heavy steel handcuffs that glinted under the streetlights as the vehicle pulled away from the scene.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.