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.

Dictionary Entries Near pull the strings

pull the chain

pull the strings

pull the wool over someone's eyes

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Pull the strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pull%20the%20strings. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shenanigans

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games