Nota: La traducción de esta entrada está actualmente en revisión de calidad, por lo que parte del contenido se muestra temporalmente solo en inglés.
Esta entrada aún no se ha traducido a tu idioma, así que se muestra el original a continuación.
handcuff
The term evokes a strong sense of physical restraint and legal authority. While it primarily describes a tool of law enforcement, it carries a heavy connotation of loss of autonomy and submission to power. In a literal sense, it is almost always associated with the tension between a captor and a captive.
When used figuratively, the word shifts from physical metal to systemic or bureaucratic barriers. It describes a state of paralysis where an entity is unable to act not because of a lack of will, but because of external constraints. This usage often appears in political or corporate contexts to criticize restrictive laws or rigid policies that stifle progress.
Meanings
Examples
The officer reached for his handcuff to secure the suspect.
Put your hands behind your back and let me handcuff you.
The police had to handcuff the prisoner to the transport bench.
I cannot believe they actually handcuffed him in front of everyone.
The strict new regulations effectively handcuff the company's ability to innovate.
We are handcuffed by a lack of funding for this project.
The CEO felt handcuffed by the board of directors during the merger.
He tried to pick the lock of the handcuff with a paperclip.
These bureaucratic rules just handcuff our progress.
These bureaucratic rules just handcuff our progress.