tied

be fit to be tied (American)

to be very angry or upset. She was fit to be tied when she discovered she'd left her purse on the train.

See also: fit, tie

be tied to your mother's apron strings

if someone, usually a man, is tied to their mother's apron strings, they still need their mother and cannot think or act independently. He's 30 but he's still tied to his mother's apron strings.

See also: string, tie

could do something with one arm/hand tied behind their back (informal)

if someone could do something with one hand tied behind their back, they can do it very easily. Her part in the film wasn't very demanding - she could have played it with one hand tied behind her back.

See also: arm, back, behind, could, hand, tie

someone's hands are tied

if someone's hands are tied, they are not free to behave in the way that they would like. I'd like to raise people's salaries but my hands are tied.

See also: hand, tie

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your hands are tied

you are not free to act. Some of my students are failing, but my hands are tied by their parents, who can't admit their kids need extra help.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form something has tied someone's hands: The new rules have tied his hands.

See also: hand, tie