Explore the fun world of idioms with our guide to “Chain Idioms”! This easy-to-understand blog post will show you some common English idioms linked by the theme of ‘chain.’ Even kids can grasp these expressions and learn how to use them in sentences!
Chain Idioms
Here are 20 chain idioms in English with meaning and example sentence for each.
1. Break the chains
Meaning: Free oneself from restrictions.
Example: He broke the chains and quit his job.
2. Chain reaction
Meaning: Series of events caused by an initial one.
Example: Dropping the glass set off a chain reaction.
3. Chain of command
Meaning: Hierarchy of authority in an organization.
Example: He reported it up the chain of command.
4. Chain of events
Meaning: A sequence of actions or incidents.
Example: A surprising chain of events unfolded.
5. Chain smoker
Meaning: Someone who smokes continually.
Example: My uncle was a chain smoker.
6. Chain up
Meaning: Secure with a chain.
Example: He chained up the gate at night.
7. Pulling chains
Meaning: Teasing or fooling someone.
Example: Are you pulling my chain?
8. Yanking someone’s chain
Meaning: To tease or fool someone.
Example: Stop yanking my chain!
9. Chains of love
Meaning: The strong bond of a relationship.
Example: They’re bound by chains of love.
10. Chain letter
Meaning: A message sent repeatedly.
Example: She received a chain letter by mail.
11. Ball and chain
Meaning: Something that restricts freedom.
Example: His debt was a ball and chain.
12. Chain gang
Meaning: A group of prisoners chained together.
Example: He was sentenced to the chain gang.
13. Food chain
Meaning: Hierarchy of organisms feeding on each other.
Example: Sharks are at the top of the food chain.
14. Off the chain
Meaning: Extremely good; exciting.
Example: The party was off the chain!
15. Missing link in the chain
Meaning: A gap in a series or sequence.
Example: We found the missing link in the chain.
16. The weakest link in the chain
Meaning: Least strong or reliable part.
Example: He’s the weakest link in the chain.
17. Chain of thoughts
Meaning: Sequence of thoughts or ideas.
Example: His chain of thoughts was intriguing.
18. Chain of mountains
Meaning: A series of connected mountains.
Example: They hiked the chain of mountains.
19. Chain store
Meaning: One of a series of similar stores.
Example: She works at a chain store.
20. Chain mail
Meaning: Metal armor made of interlinked rings.
Example: The knight wore chain mail.
