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Pull strings
To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
📖 Definitions of "Pull strings"
verb
- 1
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."
- 2
(often with “the” or a possessive adjective (such as “his”) before “strings”, pull one's strings) To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.
💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Pull strings"
Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| pull a few stringsverb | (figurative) To cause an event or events to occur, especially in someone's benefit or favour; to make something happen. |
| fiddle withverb | To manipulate or toy with (an object), especially in a nervous, restless or aimless manner. |
| pull the wiresverb | Synonym of pull strings. |
| playnoun | (uncountable, formerly countable) Activity for amusement only, especially among the young. |
| pullnoun | (countable) An act of pulling (applying force toward oneself). |
| play both sides against the middleverb | (idiomatic) To manipulate opponents or competitors in a manner which benefits the manipulator. |
| play someone like a violinverb | (idiomatic) To control or manipulate someone, especially by playing on their emotions. |
| twist someone's armverb | (figuratively) To coerce, force, or cajole. |
| wirepullverb | (ambitransitive) To exert an influence on (others) that is felt but not seen. |
| wangleverb | (transitive) To obtain through deceitful or manipulative methods. |
| play one against anotherverb | (idiomatic) To manipulate two persons into competing against one another in a way that benefits the person carrying out the manipulation. |
| finagleverb | (transitive) To obtain, arrange, or achieve by indirect, complicated and/or intensive efforts. |
| teasenoun | One who teases. |
| maneuvernoun | A movement of the body, or with an implement, instrument etc., especially one performed with skill or dexterity. |
| work the oracleverb | (dated, informal) To manipulate circumstances to one's personal advantage. |
| bend to someone's willverb | (idiomatic, intransitive) To yield to persuasion or other pressure originating from someone. |
| tweedlenoun | A sound of the kind made by a fiddle. |
| pimpnoun | Someone who solicits customers for prostitution and acts as manager for a group of prostitutes; a pander. |
| wringverb | (transitive) Often followed by out: to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out. |
| play someone like a fiddleverb | (idiomatic) To play (manipulate) (a person) skillfully. |
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