pulling strings

A form of pull strings — To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of pull strings
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“pulling strings.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pulling%20strings. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

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

Source: pulling strings on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.