have one's hands tied

/hav wˈɒnz hˈandz tˈaɪd/

/hæv wˈʌnz hˈændz tˈaɪd/

[phrase]

to have one's hands tied

[PHRASE]

‌to be unable to act, help, intervene, or assert one's free will, especially due to rules and restrictions

Examples

1. I've already asked Jameson about it and all he had to say was that his hands were tied.

2. I'm afraid this matter shall be resolved at the court of law, my hands are tied in this case.

3. He has his hands tied now that he has joined the law school.

4. And he was one of those guys that supported oralism and putting deaf kids in speech therapy, having their hands tied behind their back and, oh it's almost time?