have one's hands tied

have one's hands tied (third-person singular simple present has one's hands tied, present participle having one's hands tied, simple past and past participle had one's hands tied)

1. To be powerless to act, to be thwarted.

   I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do. My hands are tied.

• tie someone's hands
• have one's hands full
• with one hand tied behind one's back