Phrase guide

have one's hands tied

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To be powerless to act, to be thwarted.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, informal

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: avoir les mains liées — be powerless to act
  • Greek: δένω τα χέρια (déno ta chéria) — be powerless to act
  • Hungarian: meg van kötve a keze — be powerless to act
  • Icelandic: vera bundinn í báða skó — be powerless to act
  • Turkish: eli kolu bağlı olmak — be powerless to act