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Hands are Tied

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.

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Submitted on February 25, 2019

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to Hands are Tied

in safe handsidle hands are the Devil's toolsget tied uphave one's hands fullget one's hands dirtydishpan handsidle hands are the devil's toolsall hands on deck!hands upchange handsfit to be tiedcold hands, warm heartget into the wrong handscold hands, warm heart; dirty feet, no …

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