Why do men refer to the wife of a marriage as their "ball and chain"?

Question

What exactly does it implies that men assume women are clingy or am i misinterpreting the expression incorrectly?

SocksRUs · Accepted Answer

Because marriage destroys the relationship, the woman's good sides and a man's freedom.

When women feel secure, they tend to get a lower sex drive. They let themselves go and become fat and unhealthy, they walk around in sloppy clothes around the home without makeup, they increase their expectations towards the man and nag and shame the man into doing what they want most of the time. He is dragged to all sorts of boring shit, like family parties, birthday parties, friend's dinners and shit like that. Formal and boring shit.

The man most often will not divorce her, especially not if they have children. Many men stick with his wife because he wants access to his children. If they divorce, the end result is often that he has to give away at least half of what he has, at least 25 % of his earnings in childsupport, and very often alimony to the wife, and he will barely get to see his kids, but the x wife will bring in another man who will have full access to his kids. The end result is that his life will be financially ruined and without high access to his kids. That's why so many men commit suicide after divorce. It's not because they miss their wife, it's because they're financially destroyed for the rest of their lives and don't have access to their kids.

So now you know why men say that. They are forced to stay in a relationship prison because getting out of it is even worse. They are fucked no matter what they do, so the less painful is to stay together and at least have access to the kids.

kbharadwaj3125 · Accepted Answer

😂😂😂.. he will be bound by responsibilities. He used to be so much free when you were not here. But when you are here some one is starting to look for you that begins to worry us and get back to you even if some times we want to stay. That loss of freedom is explained as a ball and chain

maiave · Accepted Answer

I never wanna get married. I think it’s because of the way married men are portrayed in movies and such, like they hate their wives.

kaskas19 · Accepted Answer

@Shelike thanks for announcing to the world that you're single.

truthbeknown · Answer

It represents how marriage and a wife and hold a guy down or hold him back from doing what he wants in life. It doesn't necessarily mean he can't see other women, but a lot marriages see the guy's life change. He doesn't see his friends as much, he doesn't get to enjoy his hobbies as much, or even loses them in order to satisfy her. Even simply having time to yourself becomes a rarity because of marriage.

Chaz269 · Answer

It's just an expression now. It's used meaninglessly. It used to suggest that a married person's best years were behind them. That single life was freedom and married life was prison.
In this day and age, if you marry someone you consider a prison sentence, you're getting what you deserve.

jackyboyo · Answer

The ball and chain was American slang back in the early 1900s and was used as a term by men saying their wife was holding them back from doing something, similar to the ball and chain prisoners wore in the 1800s. It just became more popular by media (mostly newspapers back then) and is still referenced in today's media by films and TV shows (usually comedy's) but I doubt anyone really uses it and means it these days.

LegateLanius · Answer

The allusion being to the presumption that a man's wife held him back from doing the things he really wanted to. This, of course, refers back to the actual ball and chain, which was a heavy metal ball secured to a prisoner's leg by means of a chain and manacle.

DivideByZero · Answer

Yes you are misinterpreting. Ball and chains means a man will be chained to one woman for the rest of his life. Yes, of course one can cheat, one can divorce and marry another one, but it's just a figure of speech, nothing more.

punkineater03 · Answer

Because they're legitimately held down by marriage. Any man who says they are only interested in their wife for the rest of their life is a liar. I love my wife, but would love to date as many women as I could.

Anon85 · Answer

It means they can't sleep around and they've got responsibilities. It's just become a joke at this point

wankiam · Answer

rather than seeing it as derogatory it can also mean she/he is the one that anchors you down and keeps you on the sand narrow

Caaarl · Answer

No it means that men are imprisoned by marriage. That women obtain most of the power when men marry and end up with no way to escape.

JuanFrank7 · Answer

Basically for a guy when he gets married most (if not al) of his past freedom is gone and he now has to work hard enough to provide for his family hence the "game over"

clampfan101 · Answer

Apparently there’s a feeling of adventure,(the “game” in “game over”), in being in relationship with various women for some men. They feel marriage restricts their possible level of excitement.

Anon-ymous1 · Answer

Because we want to be allowed to be attracted to, and have sex with, other girls. And knowing that that is likely done forever is a hell of a tough pill to swallow.

PaulMarrow · Answer

Typically it's a joke, no more drinking, partying etc

Intraluminal · Answer

Historically, prisoners used to wear a ball and chain when out of their cells.

Dudeman1234 · Answer

It means he is sacrificing his freedom bu getting married

Auctor · Answer

Because he loses his freedom to live how ever he wants

youlip · Answer

It means that they can't be as free as they used to be as they are bound by responsibility and other things like that

WhoDatGuy · Answer

It's not being clingy. It's women not letting them have fun. E. g going out with their mates

Nachowedgie · Answer

Cuz it's the end of their freedom, they're now a slave

Anonymous · Answer

They drain the main vein - bank account. Either that or juju.

johnboymuscles · Answer

Cause wives take all the fun out of his life

scooogy · Answer

That's when she was just the wrong choice.

JinnRose · Answer

Maybe most guys are polygamist by nature...

Princeaymi · Answer

No its not true

Why do men refer to the wife of a marriage as their "ball and chain"?

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