noun

chains

Translation

chains, shackles, restraints

The prisoner was held in chains.

She wanted to break free from the chains of tradition.

She wanted to break free from the restraints of tradition.

((in chains)) physically restrained with chains The prisoners were kept in chains.

((the chains of sth.)) the restrictions imposed by something He broke the chains of poverty.

Synonyms: shackles, fetters, bonds, restraints.

Plural of 'chain'. The figurative sense of 'restraint' developed from its use for prisoners.

Think of the phrase 'break the chains' which is used to mean escaping from a restrictive situation.