your hands are tied
(one's) hands are tied
One is being prevented from acting, helping, or intervening as one should or desires to due to circumstances beyond one's control, such as rules, conflicting orders, or higher priorities. I'm sorry, I would love to approve your application, but my hands are tied by the regulations. The company stated that they have tried everything in their power to avoid pay cuts, but their hands are tied at this point.
See also: hand, tie
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
your hands are tied
COMMON If your hands are tied, something such as a law is preventing you from acting in the way that you want to. He would like to help but his hands are tied by regulations approved by the council of ministers. Note: You can also say that you have your hands tied or that something ties your hands. The present rule ties jockeys' hands and I don't feel it is fair. She felt frustrated by it all. `We feel as though our hands have been tied because we have no power at all.'
See also: hand, tie
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
- (one's) hands are tied
- a hundred and ten percent
- (one) could use (something)
- drive (one) out of office
- force (one) out of office
- force out of office
- give (one) (one's) head
- give head
- give somebody their head
- give someone their head