pull strings
English
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pull strings
Where it comes from
Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings.
verb pulls strings · pulling strings · pulled strings · pull a few strings · pull some strings
- 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.
- 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.
Translations
Every language
verb to use one's influence with others
| 한국어 | 빽을 쓰다 ppaeg-eul sseuda, 연줄을 쓰다 yeonjur-eul sseuda, 인맥을 쓰다 inmaeg-eul sseuda |
|---|---|
| Português | mexer os pauzinhos |
| Français | faire jouer ses relations, pistonner |
verb to control behind the scenes
| Português | manipular |
|---|---|
| Français | tirer les ficelles |
| Deutsch | die Fäden ziehen |
| Русский | заправлять zapravljatʹ |
Talk about this word "pull strings." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pull%20strings. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pull strings. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pull%20strings "pull strings." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pull%20strings.Cite this
@misc{pull_strings_2026,
title = {pull strings},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pull%20strings},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
