on a string

prepositional phrase

Under one's control or influence.

“The magician had the audience on a string with his fascinating illusions.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. Under one's control or influence.

    The magician had the audience on a string with his fascinating illusions.

    1 more example

    You've only got my heart on a string and everything a-flutter

    1984, “No More Lonely Nights”, performed by Paul McCartney
  2. datedIn a state of great anxiety.

Origin

Imagery of a puppeteer manipulating a marionette by its strings. Compare pull the strings.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

on a string. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20a%20string

MLA

“on a string.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20a%20string. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “on a string,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/on%20a%20string.

Source: on a string on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.