someone's hands are tied

US /ˈsʌm.wʌnz hændz ɑːr taɪd/
UK /ˈsʌm.wʌnz hændz ɑːr taɪd/
"someone's hands are tied" picture
1.

to be unable to act freely or to help in a particular situation because of rules, laws, or other restrictions

:
I'd love to help you, but my hands are tied by company policy.
The government claims its hands are tied by international agreements.