紧箍咒 [- - zhòu]the Incantation of the Golden Hoop, used by the Monk in the novel Pilgrimage to the West (《西游记》) to keep the Monkey King under control — inhibition; trammels; sth. used to keep sb. under control:
•¶ 对老范来说, 这就是紧箍咒, 每回一听说起保管头痛。 This was surely a magic formula for Old Fan as his head ached each time he heard it.