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# handcuff

noun (handcuffs — plural; a pair of handcuffs); verb (handcuff, handcuffs, handcuffed, handcuffing)

«handcuff» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (noun, usually plural) Two metal rings joined by a chain that police lock round a prisoner's wrists. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#m1)
2. (verb) To put handcuffs on someone: The police handcuffed the thief. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#m2)
3. (verb, informal) To limit someone so they cannot act freely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#m3)

### In the lessons

In crime stories and news police handcuff suspects; in everyday talk a rule can «handcuff» you, meaning tie your hands. Phrases: «a pair of handcuffs», «in handcuffs», «be handcuffed».

### Examples

- The police officer handcuffed the robber. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x1)
- The thief was led away in handcuffs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x2)
- The magician escaped from the handcuffs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x3)
- The toy police set came with plastic handcuffs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x4)
- The new rules handcuffed the team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x5)
- A pair of handcuffs has two cuffs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/#x6)

### Note

The noun is normally plural: «handcuffs», «a pair of handcuffs». Informal short form: «cuffs». Regular verb.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «handcuff» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/handcuff/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«handcuff» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/handcuff.html) on Mova free.