tie one's hands; be helpless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to have one's hands tied; to be helpless; to have no way out
Commonly used in set phrases such as 束手就擒 (to allow oneself to be captured without resistance) and 束手无策 (to be at a loss). Implies a state of powerlessness or inability to act.
Dí敌
rén人
jiàn见
dà大
shì势
yǐ已
qù去
，
zhǐ只
néng能
shù束
shǒu手
jiù就
qín擒
。
Seeing that the tide had turned, the enemy could only surrender without resistance.
Miàn面
duì对
zhè这
gè个
jì技
shù术
nán难
tí题
，
zhěng整
gè个
tuán团
duì队
dōu都
shù束
shǒu手
wú无
cè策
。
Facing this technical problem, the entire team was at a loss.
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Tā他
nìng宁
yuàn愿
shù束
shǒu手
dài待
bì毙
，
yě也
bù不
yuàn愿
chū出
mài卖
péng朋
you友
。
He would rather wait for death with hands tied than betray his friends.