Not able to help or assist; stay away from doing what you are willing to do; helpless to do something
Etymology:
- This idiom got famous in the 17th century. It refers to a person whose hands are tied together in real. If someone is unable to do anything he/she actually willing to do, may be the reason is his /her tied hands. However, this idiom doesn’t actually describe that your hands are tied, but when you are feeling powerless and helpless in doing something it figuratively seems that your hands are tied.
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“
I always wanted to help Sara, but it feels like my hands are tied.
Submitted on February 25, 2019
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Nearby phrases
Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Hands are Tied
cold hands, warm hearthands downhave one's hands fullcold hands, warm heart; dirty feet, no …idle hands are the Devil's workshopin safe handshave blood on one's handsdishpan handshands downidle hands are the Devil's playthingsfall into the wrong handsget one's hands dirtyget one's hands onidle hands are the devil's playthings
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"Hands are Tied." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/hands-are-tied_44735>.
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