pull the strings

US /pʊl ðə strɪŋz/
UK /pʊl ðə strɪŋz/
"pull the strings" picture
1.

to control a situation or people, often secretly or indirectly

:
•
It's clear that someone powerful is pulling the strings behind the scenes.
•
She's always been the one to pull the strings in her family.
:
manipulateorchestratecontroldirectmanage
:
pull stringsstringpullpull inpull onstring cheesestring bean