pull strings
to use personal influence to make something happen
TRANSLATION
to pull strings = Beziehungen spielen lassen to pull the strings die Drähte ziehen; die Fäden in der Hand halten LEO
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
After graduation, George W Bush joined the Texas national guard as a pilot - despite a poor test grade and a long waiting list - prompting recent allegations that his family PULLED STRINGS to keep him out of Vietnam.
(BBC News - 19th November 2003)
(BBC News - 19th November 2003)
Did you
know?
pull strings
idiom
Also, pull wires. Use one's influence, as in "His father pulled some strings and got him out of jail."
Both terms refer to manipulating a marionette. The first dates from the second half of the 1800s, the second from the early 1800s.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"I suggest we ask the vice-president if he pull some strings to fix a meeting with his boss."
NOTE:
Here are some more common idioms using "pull":
pull a fast one (Informal)
To play a trick or perpetrate a fraud.
pull (oneself) together
To regain one's composure.
pull (one's) punches
To refrain from deploying all the resources or force at one's disposal: didn't pull any punches during the negotiations.
pull (one's) weight
To do one's own share, as of work.
pull out all the stops (Informal)
To deploy all the resources or force at one's disposal: The Inaugural Committee pulled out all the stops when arranging the ceremonies.
pull (someone's) leg
To play a joke on; tease or deceive.
pull the plug on (Slang)
To stop supporting or bring to an end: pulled the plug on the new art courses.
pull the rug (out) from under (Informal)
To remove all support and assistance from, usually suddenly.
pull the wool over (someone's) eyes
To deceive; hoodwink.
pull together
To make a joint effort.
pull up stakes
To clear out; leave: She pulled up stakes in New England and moved to the desert.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
idiom
Also, pull wires. Use one's influence, as in "His father pulled some strings and got him out of jail."
Both terms refer to manipulating a marionette. The first dates from the second half of the 1800s, the second from the early 1800s.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"I suggest we ask the vice-president if he pull some strings to fix a meeting with his boss."
NOTE:
Here are some more common idioms using "pull":
pull a fast one (Informal)
To play a trick or perpetrate a fraud.
pull (oneself) together
To regain one's composure.
pull (one's) punches
To refrain from deploying all the resources or force at one's disposal: didn't pull any punches during the negotiations.
pull (one's) weight
To do one's own share, as of work.
pull out all the stops (Informal)
To deploy all the resources or force at one's disposal: The Inaugural Committee pulled out all the stops when arranging the ceremonies.
pull (someone's) leg
To play a joke on; tease or deceive.
pull the plug on (Slang)
To stop supporting or bring to an end: pulled the plug on the new art courses.
pull the rug (out) from under (Informal)
To remove all support and assistance from, usually suddenly.
pull the wool over (someone's) eyes
To deceive; hoodwink.
pull together
To make a joint effort.
pull up stakes
To clear out; leave: She pulled up stakes in New England and moved to the desert.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
