Collocations for "chains"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "chains" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
chain
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- a [hotel, restaurant, furniture] chain
- a chain of [hotels, stores]
- a [motor, bicycle, bike, saw] chain
- [fix, repair, grease] the [motor] chain
- [tied, secured, locked] the bike with a chain
- [put, place, tie, tighten, loosen, remove] the chain (around)
- [tightened] the chain around his [legs, ankles]
- [whipped, hit, lashed] by a chain
- [whipped] the [prisoners, cellmates, convicts] with a chain
- a [one] -meter (length of) chain
- are going to spend the rest of your life in chains
- a [gold, silver] chain
- a [thin, thick, chunky, flimsy] (gold) chain
- [a neck, a choke, an ankle] chain
- is a part of the food chain
- the chain of [command, custody, communication]
- [reconstruct, follow, piece together, trace] the chain of events
- the [world's, continent's] largest mountain chain
- UK: The workers have been dragging the chain (lately).
- UK: Pull the (toilet) chain when you're done.
- chained [her bike, his dog, their bikes] to
- chain your [bike] up
- chain up your [bike]
- chained (it) to a [fence, lamppost, volume, railing]
- chain [them] together
- chain the prisoners [together, by the feet, at the wrist]
- kept [her, the prisoners] chained up
- chained their [feet, wrists] (together)
- chained themselves to [railings, a tree]
- chained up [at night, over the weekend]
- chained up in the [street, bike park, garden]
- his [work, studies] chained him to the [desk, seat, computer]
- chained to the kitchen sink
- [provoked, caused, was] a chain reaction
- [resend, forward] a chain [message, email, letter]
- is the chain [manager, director]
- a chain-link fence
- [wearing, dressed in, protected by] chain mail
'chains' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):