pull strings
To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of othersTo manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
Meaning
2 senses(idiomatic, intransitive)To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
He has the job not because of talent, but because his dad pulled strings with the boss.
(idiomatic, intransitive, often)To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.
We know who pulls the strings around here.
die Fäden ziehen
заправлятьzapravljatʹ
- influence or control shrewdly or deviously
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings.Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
pulls strings, pulling strings, pulled strings, pulled strings| Base form | pull strings · to pull strings |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | pulls strings |
| Present participle | pulling strings |
| Past simple | pulled strings |
| Past participle | pulled strings |
irregular
Synonyms
2 synonyms- influence or control shrewdly or deviously:manipulatepull wires
Word family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle