Straitjackets Meaning in English
word · lemma: straitjacket
Definition
Straitjackets are strong jackets with long sleeves that tie around the back to prevent a person from moving their arms, often used in the past for people in mental hospitals. The word can also be used to describe something that restricts freedom or actions.
Usage & Nuances
Mostly historical/medical; now also used metaphorically for strict rules or systems ('bureaucratic straitjackets'). Not to be confused with 'straightjacket' (wrong spelling). Rare in everyday conversation; more common in written or figurative uses.
Example Sentences
Doctors used straitjackets in old mental hospitals.
basic
He feels like rules at school are straitjackets.
basic
The patients were put into straitjackets for safety.
basic
Some people see laws as unnecessary straitjackets on creativity.
natural
Bureaucratic procedures can act like straitjackets for progress.
natural
The artist broke free from the straitjackets of tradition and tried something new.
natural