Chain Gang

Pronunciation: /tʃeɪn ɡæŋ/

Definitions of chain gang

noun A group of people working together in a coordinated manner

Example Sentences

A1 The chain gang worked together to build a road.

A2 The prisoners were part of a chain gang, working on the highway.

B1 The concept of a chain gang has been a controversial topic in criminal justice reform.

B2 The movie depicted a group of prisoners forming a chain gang to escape from prison.

C1 The historical use of chain gangs in the United States has been widely criticized.

C2 The novel explored the psychological impact of being part of a chain gang on the characters.

Examples of chain gang in a Sentence

formal The prisoners were put on a chain gang to work on the roads.

informal I heard they put some guys on a chain gang for breaking the rules.

slang Those guys on the chain gang have it rough.

figurative Being stuck in a dead-end job can feel like being on a chain gang.

Grammatical Forms of chain gang

• plural: chain gangs
• present tense: chain gang
• future tense: will chain gang
• perfect tense: have chain ganged
• continuous tense: is chain ganging
• singular: chain gang
• positive degree: chain gang
• infinitive: to chain gang
• gerund: chain ganging
• participle: chain ganged

Origin and Evolution of chain gang

First Known Use: 1874 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'chain gang' originated in the United States during the post-Civil War era.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to groups of prisoners chained together while performing labor, the term 'chain gang' has evolved to also symbolize oppressive and inhumane treatment of individuals within the criminal justice system.