putty in someone's hands
One who is readily manipulated or controlled by another person; a puppet.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He is putty in her hands whenever she smiles at him.”
“The charming salesman knew the customer was putty in his hands once he offered a discount.”
“Despite his reputation for being a stern and unyielding leader, he became mere putty in his young daughter's hands whenever she asked for a favor.”
first recorded 19th c.
Attested from 1867, the expression draws upon the physical malleability of putty to describe a comparable ease of manipulation in a person. It functions as a straightforward metaphor for the loss of individual resistance.
- 01
another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
- 02
answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 03
answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 04
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 05
bane of someone's existence
Someone or something that poses a significant problem to someone.
- 06
bash someone's face in
To beat someone violently.
- 07
bash someone's head
To beat up someone violently.
- 08
be someone's to lose
To be anticipated to be won by someone.
Last updated August 10, 2026