j'ai les mains liées
The phrase "my hands are tied" is expressed in French as j'ai les mains liées.
This phrase is used when someone cannot act or make a decision because of rules or other people's restrictions.
What does it mean word for word?
The idiom j'ai les mains liées literally translates to "I have the hands tied".
Which one should you use?
In French, it is more natural to use the construction avoir les mains liées (to have the hands tied) rather than the direct translation of 'my hands are tied' (mes mains sont liées) to express this idiom. The phrase mes mains sont liées is a grammatically correct alternative.
How does it change in a sentence?
While j'ai les mains liées is the idiomatic standard, mes mains sont liées is a grammatically correct alternative that uses the possessive adjective instead of the partitive construction.
Did you know?
- In French, the body part main is used in the expression mettre la main à la pâte, which means to pitch in and help with a task.
- While the English phrase focuses on the 'hands', a French speaker might also say je n'ai pas la main to express a lack of control or influence over a situation.
- The word liées is derived from lier, a versatile verb used not only for knots but also for chemical bonds between molecules and social connections.
Examples in context
- J'ai les mains liées.My hands are tied.The sentence is a direct translation of the phrase using j'ai les mains liées.Tatoeba #1684815 by sacredceltic, translation #1682711 by Spamster
- J'ai les mains liées. Je ne peux rien faire à ce sujet.My hands are tied. I can't do anything about that.The sentence uses j'ai les mains liées to explain an inability to act on a specific matter.Tatoeba #10514125 by lbdx, translation #10513739 by CK
- Malheureusement, je suis impuissant(e) dans cette situation.Unfortunately, I am powerless in this situation.
- Désolé(e), mais là, je ne peux vraiment rien faire.Sorry, but this time, I really can't do anything.
- Je voudrais t'aider, mais j'ai les mains liées par le règlement.I would like to help you, but my hands are tied by the rules.
Example conversation
Manon tells Lucas she cannot give him a discount on a product.
- ManonJe ne peux pas baisser le prix, Lucas.I cannot lower the price, Lucas.
- LucasPourquoi ? Vous êtes la responsable.Why? You are the manager.
- ManonC'est la politique du magasin, j'ai les mains liées.It is store policy, my hands are tied.
- LucasC'est vraiment dommage.That is really a shame.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
