The idiom ‘hands are tied' means ‘to be prevented from doing something because some other authority prevents you from acting'. The video explains the meaning of the idiom ‘hands are tied' in English. We explain how to use it with some easy examples for Social and Business English.
This idiom is often used in situations where regulations or rules are stopping you from making a simple decision or from helping someone with something. You might want to help someone but tell them that you can't help because your hands are tied. This idiom is also useful when someone is asking you to bend or break the rules to give them special treatment. "I'd love to cancel your fine, but I can't. It's on the system and my hands are tied."
Further Examples:
We can't make an exception for you, our hands are tied by regulations.
I went to see my manager to ask him why he picked Frank for the promotion instead of me. He agreed that I deserved it more, but said his hands were tied because Frank is the boss’s nephew.