pull strings

Etymology
Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings.

Verb

 * 1)  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.
 * 1)  To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.

Translations

 * French: faire jouer ses relations,
 * Maori: whakakawe
 * Portuguese: mexer os pauzinhos


 * French:
 * Norwegian:
 * Bokmål: trekke i trådene
 * Polish:
 * Portuguese:
 * Russian: