Question of the Day #718

Unregistered lobbyists, consultants pull strings on local policy. See what we uncovered

From the headline of this article at the Tallahassee Democrat.

上記の文で、pull stringsの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "pull strings" mean?

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Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

陰で糸を引く、陰で人を操る、策動する、裏から手を回す、黒幕になる、背後に誰かいる、コネを利用する

Answer

According to The Free Dictionary:

To use the power or influence one has over others, especially people of importance, to get what one wants or to help someone else.

語源

英辞郎によると、

操り人形の糸(strings)を引っ張って操る様子から

Etymology

According to The Free Dictionary,

The term comes from puppetry: puppets or marionettes are manipulated by means of strings or wires held by the puppetmaster. It was transferred to politics by 1860, when Bishop William Stubbs wrote (Lectures on the Study of History), “A king who pulled the strings of government.”

Examples

• I may be able to pull a few strings if you need the document urgently.
• Tony is sure he can pull a few strings and get you in.
• He had his uncle pull strings to get him a promotion
• I actually know a few people who work at the restaurant, so I'll see if I can pull a few strings and get you a table.
• You wait and see, he's going to start pulling strings to get this police investigation quashed.

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