pull strings
"pull-strings" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“pull strings” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 12
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
Corpus desk
Index EN-pull-strings · pull strings · English
pull strings · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-MEGA 12 letters
- VOW-2 2 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "P" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | pull strings |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| Letters | 12 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “pull strings” in English
Rare enough to double-check
pull strings is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 2 senses are on record.
Zero misspellings are on record for pull strings in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings. The correct English form is pull strings, spelled P-U-L-L- -S-T-R-I-N-G-S.
Definition
- 1To manipulate a situation, especially by asking favours of others; to use one's influence with others to attain a desired goal.
- 2To control a person, organization, or situation by operating behind the scenes, as a puppeteer controls a marionette.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how pull strings appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
He has the job not because of talent, but because his dad pulled strings with the boss.
We know who pulls the strings around here.
Etymology
Suggesting a puppet show, where characters are moved by pulling attached strings.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.