ball and chain vs relief

ball and chain

noun
  • Anything that restricts one's freedom or opportunities. 

  • One's wife, as a symbol of restraint. 

  • A heavy iron ball attached to a prisoner's leg by a chain as a means of restraint. 

relief

noun
  • Aid or assistance offered in time of need. 

  • The feeling associated with the removal of stress or discomfort. 

  • Release from a post or duty, as when replaced by another. 

  • A type of sculpture or other artwork in which shapes or figures protrude from a flat background. 

  • A certain fine or composition paid by the heir of a tenant upon the death of the ancestor. 

  • A lowering of a tax through special provisions; tax relief. 

  • The apparent difference in elevation in the surface of a painting or drawing made noticeable by a variation in light or color. 

  • The removal of stress or discomfort. 

  • The supposed projection of a charge from the surface of a field, indicated by shading on the sinister and lower sides. 

  • Court-ordered compensation, aid, or protection, a redress. 

  • The person who takes over a shift for another. 

  • The difference of elevations on a surface. 

adj
  • Characterized by surface inequalities. 

  • Of or used in letterpress. 

How often have the words ball and chain and relief occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )