tie one's hands

Prevent one from acting, as in I can't help you this time; my hands are tied by the club's rules. This metaphoric term transfers physical bondage to other kinds of constraint. It was first recorded in 1642.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Jonas (2)	YO-nahs (German), JO-nəs (English)	Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German, Dutch, Biblical
Agnetha	ahng-NE-tah (Swedish)	Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Alma (2)	-	Hebrew
Kinsley	KINZ-lee	English (Modern)
Afroditi	-	Greek
Trix	TRIKS	English