tied down

tie (one) down

To constrain, restrict, impede, or limit one's ability to do something or go somewhere. I would love to try something different, but my career has really tied me down. I just don't think my experience applies to any other profession. The company is trying to tie us down with appeals and injunctions to keep the lawsuit from reaching a court. Once you're tied down with kids, travel anywhere becomes extremely difficult.
See also: down, tie
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tied down

Fig. restricted by responsibilities. I love my home, but sometimes I don't like being tied down. I don't feel tied down, even though I have a lot of responsibility.
See also: down, tie
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a whack at (something)
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a horse of another
  • a horse of another color
  • a horse of another colour
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
References in classic literature
"I lay all this while, as the reader may believe, in great uneasiness: at length, struggling to get loose, I had the fortune to break the strings, and wrench out the pegs that fastened my left arm to the ground; for, by lifting it up to my face, I discovered the methods they had taken to bind me, and at the same time with a violent pull, which game me excessive pain, I a little loosened the strings that tied down my hair on the left side, so that I was just able to turn my head about two inches.
"The true scientific mind is not to be tied down by its own conditions of time and space.
Several distinguished doctors have remonstrated against the influence of this second nature, both savage and civilized, on the moral being vegetating in those dreadful pens called bureaus, where the sun seldom penetrates, where thoughts are tied down to occupations like that of horses who turn a crank and who, poor beasts, yawn distressingly and die quickly.
They needed them for something else, and the dogs knew it; and though they were tied down and fed by hand, their eyes were full of despair and fear.
I have asked him why he won't marry me and he says he doesn't want to be tied down and that he doesn't have the money to spend on a wedding.
"His performances last season have caught a lot of people's attention and it's important that we get our better young players tied down to secure them."
St Mirren have tied down rising star Kyle Magennis on a new deal after he was linked with a move to join Jack Ross at Sunderland this summer.
The group also defined Articles 40(1) and (1A) of the Constitution as the Agong not being tied down by the prime minister's advice except in some cases where the Agong has full discretion.
"I did not see the tail tied down to a black tire filled with cement beneath the tail and the anchor rope was dark grey and nearly invisible in the available light.
Washington, August 8 ( ANI ): A new research has found that men overrate their adversary's size and underrate their own, if they are at a disadvantage, like being tied down, in combat.
Many countries now feel that players should be allowed to make their own choice rather than be tied down by contracts.
"Some of the things that we have heard from the proponents of this merger -- that there should be job growth -- we want to see all those things tied down and nailed down," he said.
The threat to Americans' security ranged from the here and now with troops in Afghanistan and Iraq tied down by their reliance on gas-guzzling equipment to years into the future when extreme temperatures and rising sea levels could lead to a widespread social breakdown.
Wolves aim to be in the Premier League themselves next season while they have Kightly tied down to a longterm contract committing him to Molineux until the summer of 2012.