がんじがらめ

noun

binding hand and foot; trussing up

Physical binding of a person's limbs so they cannot move. Often used in historical or dramatic contexts.

• 捕つかまった泥どろ棒ぼうはがんじがらめに縛しばられた。

  The captured thief was bound hand and foot.

noun

tied down; shackled; restricted

Figurative use: being constrained by rules, obligations, or circumstances so that one has no freedom of action.

• 規き則そくでがんじがらめになって、自じ由ゆうに動うごけない。

  I'm tied down by rules and can't move freely.