pull the strings
idiom
: to control someone or something often in a secret way
It turned out that his brother was the person pulling the strings behind the operation.
Examples of pull the strings in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As Pedri and Marc Casado pull the strings in midfield, the likes of Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski rack up goals for fun with the latter Spain's top scorer.
—
Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
The surprise result fueled persistent reports that Tshisekedi and Kabila had struck a backroom deal: the former would be declared president, and the latter would still pull the strings.
—Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2021
While Denaro had been on the run since 1993, he is believed to have continued to pull the strings of the Cosa Nostra from a number of secret hideouts.
—Phil Boucher, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2023
But the ‘big three’, especially India, pull the strings on the ICC’s board, where the real power lies.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
López Obrador argues that many of the reforms over the past two decades have been hollow, creating the appearance of democracy even as wealthy business executives and political bosses continue to pull the strings.
—Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2021
Death is always the end for extremists in the MCU, but the people who really pull the strings rarely face justice.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2021
Many players in The Great were actually real people and had ties to Catherine and Peter during their reign in Russia, while others are completely fabricated or a clear mashup of a few different people helping to pull the strings.
—Rachel Paige, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021
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Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
The surprise result fueled persistent reports that Tshisekedi and Kabila had struck a backroom deal: the former would be declared president, and the latter would still pull the strings.
—Mvemba Phezo Dizolele, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2021
While Denaro had been on the run since 1993, he is believed to have continued to pull the strings of the Cosa Nostra from a number of secret hideouts.
—Phil Boucher, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2023
But the ‘big three’, especially India, pull the strings on the ICC’s board, where the real power lies.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2023
López Obrador argues that many of the reforms over the past two decades have been hollow, creating the appearance of democracy even as wealthy business executives and political bosses continue to pull the strings.
—Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2021
Death is always the end for extremists in the MCU, but the people who really pull the strings rarely face justice.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2021
Many players in The Great were actually real people and had ties to Catherine and Peter during their reign in Russia, while others are completely fabricated or a clear mashup of a few different people helping to pull the strings.
—Rachel Paige, refinery29.com, 5 Jan. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near pull the strings
Cite this Entry
“Pull the strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20the%20strings. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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