To "puts straitjacket on" someone means to impose severe restrictions or limitations on their actions, thoughts, or behavior, thus limiting their freedom or preventing them from expressing themselves fully. The phrase metaphorically originates from the concept of a straitjacket, a restraining garment used in psychiatric institutions to confine individuals who are deemed mentally unstable or dangerous.
When this expression is used, it is typically referring to a situation where someone is being heavily controlled, constrained, or suppressed, often against their will. By symbolically restraining or confining a person's movements and actions, putting a straitjacket on them implies that their autonomy, creativity, independence, or unconventional thinking is being stifled.
This phrase can be applied in various contexts, such as in personal relationships, workplace environments, or societal norms. For example, a controlling partner may metaphorically put a straitjacket on their significant other, eroding their independence and limiting their interactions with others. Similarly, an oppressive government might implement policies that put a straitjacket on freedom of speech, restricting the dissemination of dissenting opinions.
In summary, the idiomatic expression "puts straitjacket on" signifies the act of subjecting someone to extreme restrictions or limitations, preventing them from expressing themselves freely and fully.
