noun, verb, strung; strung or (Rare
) stringed; string⋅ing.| 1. | a slender cord or thick thread used for binding or tying; line. |
| 2. | something resembling a cord or thread. |
| 3. | Also called cosmic string. Physics. a mathematical entity used to represent elementary particles, as gravitons, quarks, or leptons, in terms of a small but finite stringlike object existing in the four dimensions of spacetime and in additional, hypothetical, spacelike dimensions. The theory of such objects (string theory) avoids the many mathematical difficulties that arise from treating particles as points. |
| 4. | a narrow strip of flexible material, as cloth or leather, for tying parts together: the strings of a bonnet. |
| 5. | a necklace consisting of a number of beads, pearls, or the like threaded or strung on a cord; strand: She wore a double string of pearls. |
| 6. | any series of things arranged or connected in a line or following closely one after another: a string of islands; a string of questions. |
| 7. | a series of railroad cars coupled together but not constituting an entire train. |
| 8. | Journalism. a compilation of clippings of a stringer's published writings, submitted in request of payment according to an agreed space rate. |
| 9. | a group of animals, esp. saddle horses, owned or used by one person: a string of polo ponies. |
| 10. | (in a musical instrument) a tightly stretched cord or wire that produces a tone when caused to vibrate, as by plucking, striking, or friction of a bow. |
| 11. | strings,
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| 12. | a bowstring. |
| 13. | a cord or fiber in a plant. |
| 14. | the tough piece uniting the two parts of a pod: the strings of beans. |
| 15. | Architecture.
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| 16. | Computers, Linguistics. a linear sequence of symbols, words, characters, or bits that is treated as a unit. |
| 17. | Billiards, Pool.
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| 18. | a complement of contestants or players grouped as a squad in accordance with their skill: He made the second string on the football team. |
| 19. | Usually, strings. conditions or limitations on a proposal: a generous offer with no strings attached. |
| 20. | Obsolete. a ligament, nerve, or the like in an animal body. |
| 21. | to furnish with or as with a string or strings: to string a bonnet; to string a bow. |
| 22. | to extend or stretch (a cord, thread, etc.) from one point to another. |
| 23. | to thread on or as on a string: to string beads. |
| 24. | to connect in or as in a line; arrange in a series or succession: She knows how to string words together. |
| 25. | Music.
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| 26. | to provide or adorn with something suspended or slung: a room strung with festoons. |
| 27. | to deprive of a string or strings; strip the strings from: to string beans. |
| 28. | to make tense, as the sinews, nerves, mind, etc. |
| 29. | to kill by hanging (usually fol. by up). |
| 30. | Slang. to fool or hoax. |
| 31. | to form into or move in a string or series: The ideas string together coherently. |
| 32. | to form into a string or strings, as a glutinous substance does when pulled: Good taffy doesn't break—it strings. |
| 33. | string along, Informal.
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| 34. | string out,
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| 35. | on a or the string, Informal. subject to the whim of another; in one's power; dependent: After keeping me on a string for two months, they finally hired someone else. |
| 36. | pull strings or wires,
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pull (pŏŏl) v. pulled, pull·ing, pulls v. tr.
pull aheadTo move ahead, as in a race. pull away
pull down
pull out
pull throughTo come or bring successfully through trouble or illness. pull up
Idiom(s): pull a fast one Informal To play a trick or perpetrate a fraud. Idiom(s): pull (oneself) togetherTo regain one's composure. Idiom(s): pull (one's) punchesTo refrain from deploying all the resources or force at one's disposal: didn't pull any punches during the negotiations. Idiom(s): pull (one's) weightTo do one's own share, as of work. Idiom(s): pull out all the stops Informal To deploy all the resources or force at one's disposal: The Inaugural Committee pulled out all the stops when arranging the ceremonies. Idiom(s): pull (someone's) legTo play a joke on; tease or deceive. Idiom(s): pull somethingTo carry out a deception or swindle. Idiom(s): pull strings/wires Informal To exert secret control or influence in order to gain an end. Idiom(s): pull the plug on Slang To stop supporting or bring to an end: pulled the plug on the new art courses. Idiom(s): pull the rug (out) from under Informal To remove all support and assistance from, usually suddenly. Idiom(s): pull the stringBaseball To throw an off-speed pitch. Idiom(s): pull the wool over (someone's) eyesTo deceive; hoodwink. Idiom(s): pull togetherTo make a joint effort. Idiom(s): pull up stakesTo clear out; leave: She pulled up stakes in New England and moved to the desert. [Middle English pullen, from Old English pullian.] pull'er n. Synonyms: These verbs mean to cause something to move toward the source of an applied force: pull a sled up a hill; drag furniture across the floor; drew up a chair; hauls wood from the forest; a car that tows a trailer; tugged at the oars. |
To use personal connections to obtain a position: “Pat was officially interviewed for the job, but he also had his uncle pulling strings behind the scenes.” This phrase makes reference to the operation of string-controlled puppets, or marionettes.
pull strings
Also, pull wires. Use one's influence, as in By pulling strings he got us house seats to the opening, or His father pulled some wires and got him out of jail. Both terms allude to manipulating a marionette. The first dates from the second half of the 1800s, the second from the early 1800s.