straitjacket

  1. Noun.  A jacket-like garment with very long sleeves which can be secured in place, thus preventing the wearer from moving his or her arms. Often used in psychiatric hospitals to prevent patients from injuring themselves or others.
  2. Noun.  A metaphor used to describe a range of situations seen as (unpleasantly?) confining or restricting.
  3. Verb.  (literally) To put someone into a straitjacket.
  4. Verb.  (by extension) To restrict the freedom of, either physically or psychologically.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.