to be unable to change a situation because of certain rules or policies
Examples:
- I’d like to give you a bonus, but my hands are tied. The company policy doesn’t allow bonuses anymore.
- Because of the the rules and regulations about lending money, the banker’s hands were tied.
- I'm sorry — my hands are tied; we've already started the negotiations.
- The manager's hands were tied by company policy, preventing any exceptions.
Synonyms: unable to act, constrained, powerless to help