seize by the neck; stranglehold; chokepoint
Meanings
3 senses · 7 examplesverb
to seize someone by the neck; to grab by the throat with both hands
Describes a physical act of throttling or strangulation.
He angrily rushed forward and grabbed the opponent by the neck.
The thug grabbed her neck from behind, threatening the people present.
verb
to place a stranglehold on; to exploit a critical vulnerability; to control key chokepoints
formalCommonly used in economic, political, and technological contexts to describe monopolistic control or sanctions.
They have a stranglehold on us in chip technology, so we must develop it independently.
Solving the energy chokepoint issue is key to ensuring national security.
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Don't let foreign technology put you in a stranglehold.
noun
drought during the heading stage of crops; critical drought
technicalAgricultural technical term referring specifically to drought occurring when grain crops are heading.
This year suffered severe heading-stage drought, reducing wheat production by thirty percent.
Critical drought during heading is a common natural disaster in northern wheat-producing areas.