strangleholdstran‧gle‧hold /ˈstræŋɡəlhəʊld $ -hoʊld/ noun [countable] 
Just a few firms have a stranglehold on the market for this software.break/loosen the stranglehold of somebody (=stop someone having complete control)2a strong hold around someone’s neck that stops them from breathing
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- For years, two giant recording companies have had a stranglehold on the CD market.
- Satellite TV should at last break the stranglehold of the big national TV channels.
- All is slanted to maintaining the Establishment stranglehold on vast tracts of land for their own selfish playgrounds.
- Even now, Marie could sense that the stranglehold of her rage had been broken.
- Farmers with reasonable sized holdings were in a matter of years freed from the stranglehold of money lenders.
- He is down, but his stranglehold on the retail jewellery scene means that no one should say he is out.
- That marks a victory for Microsoft and breaks a stranglehold that Netscape was putting on the telecommunications industry.
- The balance of payments has become a stranglehold.
Longman Language Activatorto completely control a situation
to be the most powerful or important person or thing in a situation and therefore able to control it completely: · Men still tend to dominate the world of law - hardly any top judges are women.· You shouldn't allow your job to dominate your life like that.· A handful of multinational companies dominate the economy.
also monopolise British to completely control an activity, situation etc and unfairly prevent other people or organizations from having any control over it at all: · All night he monopolized the conversation, not letting anyone else get a word in.· The company has monopolized the building market in this area.
a situation in which one person or organization unfairly has complete control: have a monopoly: · It is not good for consumers if one company has a monopoly in any area of trade.monopoly of: · It was not easy to persuade the monarchy to let go of its monopoly of power.monopoly over: · Within a few years, the company had a virtual monopoly over all trade with India.
total power and control over a situation, organization etc - use this especially when you think this is not fair or right: have a stranglehold on something: · For years, two giant recording companies have had a stranglehold on the CD market.break the stranglehold (=to stop someone having complete control): · Satellite TV should at last break the stranglehold of the big national TV channels.
to control a situation completely: · In modern politics, no one political group can expect to have total control.have total/complete control over: · The head of department has complete control over the budget.
if a person or group holds sway , they have the most power or influence over the people in a particular situation, place, or organization: · The old communist party still holds sway in many rural areas.hold sway over: · This all happened long ago, when priests held sway over the majority of the Irish people.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Just a few firms have a stranglehold on the market for this software.
1[usually singular] complete control over a situation, organization etcstranglehold on Just a few firms have a stranglehold on the market for this software. (=stop someone having complete control)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB· Home rule and proportional representation are the means by which we shall break the stranglehold of Westminster.· That marks a victory for Microsoft and breaks a stranglehold that Netscape was putting on the telecommunications industry.· He was more instrumental than any other independent producer in breaking the stranglehold of the major studios.· We can, if we will it, break the stranglehold of the corporate king who uses our airways to control us.· The New Hope will break their stranglehold.· Little can be done to break this stranglehold until banks meet the needs of the low-paid.· Only once did Norwich break their stranglehold, midway through the first-half, when John Polston moved up to rattle a post.
Just a few firms have a stranglehold on the market for this software.break/loosen the stranglehold of somebody (=stop someone having complete control)2a strong hold around someone’s neck that stops them from breathing