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
Eustace	YOO-stəs	English
Lawanda	lə-WAHN-də	African American
Gerdina	-	Dutch
Folami	-	Western African, Yoruba
Rosamond	['rɔzəmənd]
Glenda	GLEN-də	Welsh, English