hands are tied

phrase

—used to say that someone is unable to act freely because something (such as a rule or law) prevents it

I'd like to help you, but my hands are tied.

The judge says her hands are tied because the law requires a harsh sentence in such cases.

Examples of hands are tied in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The phrase stems from the ancient Celtic handfasting ritual where hands are tied to represent an unbreakable bond. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Villela’s hands are tied because the court case is between the investor and Denver. — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2026

Pine’s hands are tied up in that scene, so that, unfortunately, means that Pine would have been unable to stop Roper from shooting Teddy. — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026

Organizers say the protests reflect mounting frustration with state laws that mandate cooperation with ICE, even as local leaders argue their hands are tied. — Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026

Rhymes for hands are tied

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide