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old ball and chain 

one's wife

The origin is from ancient prisoner restraint methods -- approximately around the late middle ages, prisoners wore a heavy metal ball attached by a chain on their legs, to prevent them from making a run for their freedom (or at least, that is the way medieval prisoners are often depicted in modern popular culture).

The allusion is that one's wife will not let one go anywhere (mostly meant as "go out", rather than "run away from her"), much like the ball and chain.
--Ho, Bob, ya havin' 'nother?
--Nah, gotta head home pal, 'cause otherwise the old ball and chain will come in here an' drag me there.
old ball and chain by Misacek01 November 25, 2013

ball and chain 

Someone who won't let you do or go anywhere without him/her.
I really wanted to go snowboarding at Lake Tahoe with my friends this weekend but my ball and chain won't let me go.
ball and chain by joanne January 7, 2005

Ball and Chain Ball 

An outrageously fun wedding, where the bride and groom acknowledge that they are prisoners of love - prepared to be legally shackled to one another for eternity. Prison Attire is required at a Ball and Chain Ball.
Eric: Will you Marry Me? Adele: Yes, but only at a Ball and Chain Ball. Eric: Duh! Adele: Please don't dress up as Nick Nolte. Eric: As long as you don't dress up like Martha Stewart.

A deal is struck, and the planning begins for the ball and chain ball.

ball and chain 

Something/someone holding you back from what you really want to do.
No, I don't want a BF right now; my chores and schoolwork are my ball and chain.
ball and chain by Shawn B. April 14, 2003

ball and chain 

Take away this ball and chain!
ball and chain by mooseknuckles November 12, 2002

ball and chain 

someone or something that's keeping you from doing what you really want to do.

Also, Sublime and Social Distortion both have songs by the title "Ball and Chain," though the songs are different from eachother.
ball and chain by KBach February 6, 2008