stranglehold
/ˈstræŋɡlhəʊld/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstræŋɡlhəʊld/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈstraŋ-gəl-ˌhōld/ (ame, mw)
stranglehold — noun
- strangleholdsingular
- strangleholdsplural
1. a situation in which one person, company, or group has so much power over an act
a situation in which one person, company, or group has so much power over an activity, industry, or region that others are unable to compete, grow, or develop freely
The supermarket chain has a stranglehold on the local market, forcing small shops to close.
stranglehold on [market]
For decades, the state-owned company held a stranglehold over the country's oil production.
hold a stranglehold over [sector]
New laws were passed to break the drug cartel's stranglehold on the border towns.
The rebel army tightened its stranglehold on the capital by cutting off all food supplies.
Without a stranglehold on distribution, the corporation could not control prices across the region.
- grip
less intense; can be positive or neutral ('a firm grip on the situation')
- monopoly
more neutral and legal/economic; does not necessarily imply harmful blocking
- domination
focuses on the power relationship rather than the blocking effect
- chokehold
informal synonym from the same wrestling metaphor; slightly more dramatic
- freedom
the absence of restrictive control
- competition
the open market condition that a stranglehold prevents
文法句型
stranglehold + on/over + noun phrase
用法筆記
Typically appears with possessive determiners or the indefinite article. Frequently paired with verbs such as have, hold, break, tighten, or loosen. The noun phrase that follows on or over names the area under control — usually a market, industry, economy, or geographical region. Almost always negative in tone, suggesting unfair or harmful domination.
常見錯誤
2. a fighting technique in combat sports such as wrestling, in which one competitor
a fighting technique in combat sports such as wrestling, in which one competitor wraps an arm tightly around the other's neck to block their breathing and force a submission
Diego caught his opponent in a tight stranglehold and held on until the round ended.
caught [someone] in a stranglehold
The referee stopped the match when Amara's stranglehold prevented Elena from breathing.
The coach showed Kenji how to apply a safe stranglehold without hurting a partner.
In professional wrestling, a stranglehold is sometimes banned because of the risk of serious injury.
文法句型
in a stranglehold
apply a stranglehold
escape a stranglehold
用法筆記
In many martial arts competitions a stranglehold (also called a chokehold) is a legal submission technique, but in some professional wrestling styles it is prohibited. This literal sense is far less common in everyday English than the figurative sense (sense 1). Distinguish from headlock, where the arm grips the head rather than the neck.