Wiktionary
alt. 1 (context intransitive idiomatic English) To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal. 2 (context intransitive idiomatic often with ''“the”'' or a possessive adjective (such as ''“his”'') before ''“strings”'' English) To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette. vb. 1 (context intransitive idiomatic English) To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal. 2 (context intransitive idiomatic often with ''“the”'' or a possessive adjective (such as ''“his”'') before ''“strings”'' English) To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.
WordNet
v. influence or control shrewdly or deviously; "He manipulated public opinion in his favor" [syn: manipulate, pull wires]
Usage examples of "pull strings".
It was Alteima's style to remain in the background and pull strings.
Maia trusted Naroin to some extent, enough to pull strings so that Maia's next cage would be more pleasant than any she had occupied before.
From what I did with the Navy, I've got some pretty high contacts who would be willing to pull strings to let my two coed .
Or they'd pull strings higher up and get you fired, or framed for something.
He could actually do things instead of having to pull strings in the background or try to manipulate government decisions by influencing public opinion.
Mama and papa would buy it for him, pull strings, use up favor-points, and Marshall would get one more chance.
If something looks like it has a military application, they investigate and pull strings.
I had to pull strings like crazy, and I would never have agreed to outside help, but it was either compromise or die.