your hands are tied

your hands are tied
(your) hands are tied you are not free to act.

Some of my students are failing, but my hands are tied by their parents, who can't admit their kids need extra help.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form something has tied someone's hands:

The new rules have tied his hands.


New idioms dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hands are tied — (your) hands are tied you are not free to act. Some of my students are failing, but my hands are tied by their parents, who can t admit their kids need extra help. Usage notes: sometimes used in the form something has tied someone s hands: The… …   New idioms dictionary

  • hands are tied — ◇ If your hands are tied you cannot do anything about a situation because you do not have the power to act freely. 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… …   Useful english dictionary

  • my hands are tied — If your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • my hands are tied —    If your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • My hands are tied —   If your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • have your hands tied — have your ˈhands tied idiom to be unable to do what you want to do because of rules, promises, etc • I really wish I could help but my hands are tied. Main entry: ↑handidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hands off — Hand Hand (h[a^]nd), n. [AS. hand, hond; akin to D., G., & Sw. hand, OHG. hant, Dan. haand, Icel. h[ o]nd, Goth. handus, and perh. to Goth. hin[thorn]an to seize (in comp.). Cf. {Hunt}.] 1. That part of the fore limb below the forearm or wrist in …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hand — I [[t]hæ̱nd[/t]] NOUN USES AND PHRASES ♦ hands (Please look at category 56 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.) 1) N COUNT Your hands are the parts of your body at the end of your arms. Each hand has four …   English dictionary

  • tie — [[t]ta͟ɪ[/t]] ♦♦ ties, tying, tied 1) VERB If you tie two things together or tie them, you fasten them together with a knot. [V n adv/prep] He tied the ends of the plastic bag together... [V n] Mr Saunders tied her hands and feet. 2) VERB If you… …   English dictionary

  • Manos: The Hands of Fate — Newspaper ad for Gala Premiere in El Paso on November 15, 1966 Directed by Harold P. Warren …   Wikipedia

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