someone's hands are tied

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

ter as mãos atadas, estar impedido de agir

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.
Eu adoraria ajudar você, mas minhas mãos estão atadas pela política da empresa.
•
The government claims its hands are tied by international agreements.
O governo alega que suas mãos estão atadas por acordos internacionais.
:
'tisgive someone a handplay into someone's handsforce someone's handlend someone a helping handcatch someone red-handedfit to be tied