hammerlock

/ˈhæmərlɑk/
noun
  1. A wrestling hold in which an opponent's arm is bent behind their back, often used to control or immobilize them.
    • The wrestler applied a hammerlock to force his opponent to the mat.
    • In self-defense class, we learned how to escape from a hammerlock.
    • The referee warned the fighter to release the hammerlock before it caused an injury.
  2. A situation in which someone is put under strong pressure or control, often in a competitive or political context.
    • The company had a hammerlock on the market, leaving no room for competitors.
    • The senator's influence gave him a hammerlock over the committee's decisions.
    • The team's star player had a hammerlock on the scoring title for the third year in a row.
Antonyms