[have] {one's} hands tied
1
to be unable to act, help, intervene, or assert one's free will, especially due to rules and restrictions
- He has his hands tied now that he has joined the law school.He can't back you up without endangering his career I'm afraid.
- I'm afraid this matter shall be resolved at the court of law, my hands are tied in this case.
- I've already asked Jameson about it and all he had to say was that his hands were tied.