hamstring
verb/ˈhæmstrɪŋ/
/ˈhæmstrɪŋ/
[often passive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they hamstring | /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/ /ˈhæmstrɪŋ/ |
| he / she / it hamstrings | /ˈhæmstrɪŋz/ /ˈhæmstrɪŋz/ |
| past simple hamstrung | /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/ /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/ |
| past participle hamstrung | /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/ /ˈhæmstrʌŋ/ |
| -ing form hamstringing | /ˈhæmstrɪŋɪŋ/ /ˈhæmstrɪŋɪŋ/ |
- to prevent somebody/something from working or taking action in the way that is needed
- be hamstrung (by something) The mayor is currently hamstrung by a budget crisis.
Word Origin16th cent.: from ham ‘back of the thigh’ + string.Definitions on the go
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hamstring