Idiom
pull strings
Meaning
To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“He pulled strings to get his friend a job.”
“My uncle pulls strings to get us the best seats at the theater.”
“Does she pull strings to help her children win every competition?”
“She pulled strings with the manager to ensure her project received extra funding this year.”
“The director had to pull strings at the local council to get a permit for the outdoor festival on such short notice.”
“You should not have to pull strings just to get an appointment with a specialist when you are feeling this sick.”
“By pulling strings among his well-connected associates, the candidate secured the nomination despite his lack of experience.”
Examples
simple
“He pulled strings to get his friend a job.”
“My uncle pulls strings to get us the best seats at the theater.”
“Does she pull strings to help her children win every competition?”
contextual
“She pulled strings with the manager to ensure her project received extra funding this year.”
“The director had to pull strings at the local council to get a permit for the outdoor festival on such short notice.”
“You should not have to pull strings just to get an appointment with a specialist when you are feeling this sick.”
complex
“By pulling strings among his well-connected associates, the candidate secured the nomination despite his lack of experience.”
Origin
The idiom derives from the operation of a puppet show, specifically the manipulation of marionettes from above. The term identifies the hidden control of characters through the pulling of attached strings, a mechanism that allows the operator to direct movements while remaining out of view.
Key words
Related idioms
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