bind hand and foot

verb

To tie up (someone’s) hands and feet.

“bound hand and foot”

Similar
tie hand and foot
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Meanings

verbbind hand and foot (third-person singular simple present binds hand and foot, present participle binding hand and foot, simple past and past participle bound hand and foot)

present singular third person binds hand and foot · participle present binding hand and foot · participle past bound hand and foot · past bound hand and foot

  1. transitiveTo tie up (someone’s) hands and feet.

    My kidnappers had bound me hand and foot so any attempt at escaping was of no avail.

  2. figurativelytransitiveTo prevent (someone) from doing what they wish, to firmly constrain.

    bound hand and foot

    Synonyms: tie hand and foot

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo prevent (someone) from doing what they wish, to firmly constrain.

Similar
tie hand and foot
Also see
tie hand and foot

Translations

Finnish kahlita, sitoa
  • kahlitaTranslations
  • sitoaTranslations
Spanish atar de pies y manos
  • atar de pies y manosTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

bind hand and foot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bind%20hand%20and%20foot

MLA

“bind hand and foot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bind%20hand%20and%20foot. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bind hand and foot,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bind%20hand%20and%20foot.

Source: bind hand and foot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.