Pull strings
Significado: To use personal connections, influence, or power to get something done or gain an advantage.
Pulling strings means leveraging who you know rather than what you know. It's the American version of 'networking gone wrong' — using connections to bypass normal processes. A parent pulling strings to get their kid into college, a politician pulling strings for a donor. It's powerful but ethically gray.
Ejemplos
- His dad pulled some strings to get him the internship. 他爸托关系帮他拿到了那个实习机会。Su padre movió algunos hilos para conseguirle la beca de prácticas.彼の父親がコネを使ってインターンシップを取り付けた。그의 아버지가 인맥을 동원해서 인턴 자리를 얻어줬다.
- I had to pull a few strings to get the permit approved that fast. 我不得不动用一些关系才让许可证这么快就批下来。Tuve que mover algunos hilos para que aprobaran el permiso tan rápido.許可をあんなに早く通すために、いくつかコネを使わなきゃいけなかった。허가를 그렇게 빨리 통과시키려면 인맥을 좀 써야 했다.
- She didn't get the job on merit — someone pulled strings for her. 她不是靠实力拿到这份工作的——有人在背后帮她走了后门。No consiguió el puesto por méritos propios — alguien movió hilos por ella.彼女は実力で仕事を得たんじゃない——誰かが裏で手を回したんだ。그녀는 실력으로 취직한 게 아니야 — 누군가 뒤에서 줄을 당겨준 거지.
Pronunciación
Guía de uso
Contexto: networking, favoritism, influence
Tono: knowing, slightly cynical
✓ Correcto
- He pulled some strings to make it happen.他动用了一些关系把事情办成了。Movió algunos hilos para que pasara.彼はコネを使ってそれを実現させた。그가 인맥을 동원해서 성사시켰다.
- Can you pull any strings with the admissions office?你能帮忙在招生办那边走走关系吗?¿Puedes mover algún hilo en la oficina de admisiones?入学事務局に何かコネ使える?입학처에 줄을 좀 당겨줄 수 있어?
✗ Incorrecto
- Don't brag about pulling strings — it undermines the person's own achievements不要炫耀走后门——这会削弱当事人自身的成就No presumas de mover hilos — socava los logros propios de la personaコネを使ったことを自慢しないこと——その人自身の実績を損なうことになる인맥 동원을 자랑하지 마라 — 당사자 본인의 성취를 깎아내리는 것이 된다
Origen e historia
From puppet theater — the puppeteer pulls strings to make things happen. Applied to social influence and politics in American English since the 19th century.
Contexto cultural
Era: 19th century
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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