Other forms: hands were tied
If someone says that their hands are tied, they mean that there's nothing they can do because something is preventing them from acting freely, such as a rule or a law.
When someone's hands are tied, that person is usually restricted not by circumstances — such as illness or bad weather — but by a rule, a strong obligation, or some other limitation imposed by people. If you missed an exam in order to attend a family reunion, and your teacher says that he can't give you a make-up exam, saying, "Sorry, my hands are tied," that means there's nothing he can do about it. Rules are rules! Sometimes, people's hands really are tied, but often, people use this expression to offload responsibility or blame others for their actions.