- To use one's personal influence or connections, often secretly or unfairly, to make something happen or gain an advantage.
Explanation
Origin
- Metaphor comes from puppetry.
- A puppeteer controls a puppet's movements by pulling strings attached to its limbs, usually hidden from the audience's view.
- Someone who pulls strings is similarly manipulating situations or people from behind the scenes using their influence.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Use clout (Use power/influence)
- Have an 'in' (Have a connection/access)
- Know people / Have connections
- Greased some palms (Implies bribery, more negative)
- Called in a marker (Used a previously owed favor)
Milder/Standard:
- Used influence
- Leveraged connections
- Called in a favor
- Intervened on someone's behalf
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Carries a connotation of potentially unfair or unethical advantage, so use thoughtfully.
- Accusing someone directly of pulling strings can be confrontational.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Could be taken literally (pulling actual strings on an object), though context usually clarifies.
- Learners might miss the nuance of secrecy or potential unfairness.
Examples
- He pulled some strings with his contacts at the city council to get the permit approved quickly.
- I wonder if she had to pull strings to get such a competitive internship.
- Can you pull a few strings and get us backstage passes?
Dialogue
Anna: How did Tom get tickets to the sold-out concert? I tried for hours!
Ben: His father is friends with the band's manager. I'm sure he pulled some strings.
Anna: Seriously? Some people have all the luck... or connections.
Ben: Tell me about it.
Social Media Examples
- Comment on News Article: No surprise he got the contract. His family always pulls strings in this town. #Corruption #Nepotism
- Blind Item Gossip: Which actor pulled strings to get their talentless kid a role in the new blockbuster? 🤔 #HollywoodInsider
- Venting Tweet: So frustrating seeing people pull strings to get ahead while others work hard and get nowhere. #Unfair
Response Patterns
- Suspicion/Accusation: I knew it! That's not fair.
- Request: Could you possibly pull some strings for me?
- Denial: No, I got this fair and square, I didn't pull any strings.
- Acknowledgment: Ah, that explains how they managed it.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing someone pulled strings:
- Ask Who do they know? or How did they manage that?.
- Express judgment (positive or negative) about the fairness.
When asked to pull strings:
- Assess if possible/willing (Let me see what I can do / Sorry, I can't).
- Ask for more details about what is needed.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes or speculates about an action.
Intonation
- Stress usually on pull and strings. I bet he had to PULL some STRINGS.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across most adult generations.
Regional Variations
- Common across English-speaking regions.