Handcuffs are metal restraints that lock around a person's wrists to prevent them from using their hands freely. Police officers use handcuffs when arresting someone to keep both the officer and the suspect safe during transport. The two metal loops connect with a short chain, forcing the person's hands to stay close together, usually behind their back.

To handcuff someone means to put handcuffs on them. Officers are trained in exactly how to handcuff suspects properly, checking that the cuffs are secure but not painfully tight. Being handcuffed doesn't mean someone is guilty, just that they're being detained while the situation gets sorted out.

The word appears in everyday speech too. When something handcuffs you, it limits what you can do. A coach might say that injuries have handcuffed the team's offense, or a student might feel handcuffed by strict rules that prevent creative solutions to a problem. In this sense, anything that restricts your freedom to act could be described as handcuffing you, whether it's a lack of time, money, or choices.