Pull strings

Pronunciation: /ˈpʊɫ ˈstɹɪŋz/

Pull strings (verb)

  1. To get something done by using secret or personal connections, not by normal rules or open effort.
  2. To control events indirectly through contacts, so outcomes happen without people seeing the real cause.

Examples

  • She pulled strings to get the job.
  • They pulled strings to speed up the approval.