Hemmed in by is a phrase that describes a situation where someone or something is surrounded or confined by other people or things. The crossword solutions for this phrase are AMIDST (6 letters), AMID (4 letters), and BESET (5 letters). AMIDST means surrounded by, AMID means in the middle of, and BESET means to be surrounded or besieged. Therefore, the phrase 'hemmed in by' can be interpreted as being surrounded or confined by other people or things.