balla ,ball and 'chain (BrE)1.■a problem that prevents you from doing what you would like to do 累赘；限制；障碍:The business never made any money and was regarded more as a ball and chain than anything else. 这家商行从未赚到过钱，只不过是个累赘。2.■(humorous) sb’s husband or wife 累赘，拖累﹙指老公或老婆﹚:I must get home to the ball and chain! 我必须回家看老婆去了。3.■ORIGIN In the past, prisoners had to wear a heavy metal ball on a chain around one leg so that they couldn’t escape. 旧时，囚犯脚上要戴沉重的金属球镣，以防其逃跑。the ball is in your/sb’s 'court4.■it is sb’s turn to speak, act, etc. next 下一个轮到某人发言﹙或行动等﹚；下一步就看某人的了:I’ve given them a list of the changes that I think are necessary, so the ball’s in their court now. 我把觉得有必要改动的地方列了个单子给了他们，所以现在就看他们怎么办了。be on the 'ball5.■be aware of what is happening and be able to react or deal with it quickly 警觉；能随机应变:For the assistant manager’s job we need someone who’s really on the ball. 经理助理一职我们需要一个精明干练的人来担任。a (whole) different/new 'ball game(informal)6.■a completely different kind of situation 完全不同的情况；全新的局面:They used to go out every night, but now they’ve got a baby it’s a whole new ball game. 他们过去每天晚上都出去，可是现在有了小孩，情况完全不同了。get/keep/set/start the 'ball rolling7.■begin/continue an activity, discussion etc. 开始/继续某活动﹙或讨论等﹚:I will start the ball rolling by introducing the first speaker. 我来介绍一下第一位讲演者作为开始。have (yourself) a 'ball (informal,especially AmE)8.■enjoy yourself very much 尽情狂欢；好好玩一玩:When these exams are finally over, we’re going to have a ball. 等这些考试全部结束后，我们打算好好乐一乐。9.■play ball (with sb) 另见play