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
The nation needed somebody who could pull the strings, massage egos, calm Congress, walk through the land mines of fickle public opinion, issue legalese when needed, and hold forth in public messages of near biblical elevations when that was needed in its turn.
—
arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
The elites pull the strings while the masses suffer the consequences of their court's egregious failures.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The key will be balance: a balance between relevant results v. relevant ads, and between humans in the loop who pull the strings v. autonomous AI agents who do everything.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Despite being out of office for four years, Trump was still able to pull the strings within the Republican party.
—Emily Martin, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
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
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arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
The elites pull the strings while the masses suffer the consequences of their court's egregious failures.
—Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
The key will be balance: a balance between relevant results v. relevant ads, and between humans in the loop who pull the strings v. autonomous AI agents who do everything.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Despite being out of office for four years, Trump was still able to pull the strings within the Republican party.
—Emily Martin, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024
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
Cite this Entry
“Pull the strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20the%20strings. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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