Phrase guide

tie someone's hands

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To render someone powerless to act, to thwart someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Qualifier: often in passive voice

Examples

  • This contract would have tied my hands.
  • I'd like to help you, but my hands are tied.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.