pull some stringsとは 意味・読み方・使い方

動詞

pull strings (三人称単数 現在形 pulls strings, 現在分詞 pulling strings, 過去形および過去分詞形 pulled strings)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.

   He has the job not because of talent, but because his dad pulled strings with the boss.

2. (intransitive, idiomatic, often with “the” or a possessive adjective (such as “his”) before “strings”) To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.
   • 1992, Richard Berke, "The 1992 Campaign: Political Memo," New York Times, 3 April (retrieved 18 July 2010):

     Mr. Brown is touchy about accusations that he is a packaged candidate, and bristles at the suggestion that Mr. Caddell pulls his strings.

   • 2003, Michael Elliott et al., "The War That Never Ends," Time, 7 July:

     "It may have begun that way," says a senior Pentagon official, "but as these attacks grow more numerous, you get the sense that there's someone pulling the strings at a higher level."