Pronunciation: [hˈandlɒk] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the word "handlock" is "handcuff" in standard English. This confusion may arise due to the similar pronunciation of the two words, both of which represent restraints for the hands. In IPA phonetic transcription, "handlock" would be /hændlɒk/, while "handcuff" would be /ˈhændkʌf/. The latter word is more commonly used and spelt correctly in police and legal contexts.
Handlock is a noun that primarily refers to a particular strategy or deck archetype in the popular collectible card game, Hearthstone. In Hearthstone, a handlock deck focuses on creating a large hand of cards and then utilizing cards that synergize with a large hand size.
The term "handlock" originated from the combination of "hand" and "Warlock," which is one of the playable classes in the game. This deck archetype is primarily associated with the Warlock class due to its unique hero power, which allows them to draw additional cards by sacrificing their own health.
The main objective of a handlock deck is to aggressively draw cards and maintain a sizable hand size throughout the game. This is because many cards in the handlock deck gain additional benefits or become more powerful when the player has a larger hand. By keeping a large number of cards in their hand, handlocks have access to various potent combos, board clears, and big minions that can overwhelm their opponents.
Some key cards commonly found in handlock decks include "Mountain Giant" and "Twilight Drake," which both become cheaper to play depending on the number of cards in the hand. Additionally, cards like "Molten Giant" allow the handlock player to take advantage of their own low health by providing a powerful and cost-effective threat.
In summary, handlock is a strategy or deck archetype in Hearthstone centered around a Warlock class deck that focuses on maintaining a large hand size to activate various powerful card synergies and overwhelm the opponent.
