string (redirected from string-like)

*on a string

Fig. under control, as one would control a marionette. (*Typically: get someone ~; have someone ~; keep someone ~.) She keeps him on a string so he won't get involved with other women.

control the purse strings and hold the purse strings

Fig. to be in charge of the money in a business or a household. I control the purse strings at our house. Mr. Williams is the treasurer. He controls the purse strings.

See also: control, purse

have someone on the string

Fig. to have someone waiting for a decision. Sally has John on the string. He has asked her to marry him, but she hasn't replied yet. Yes, it sounds like she has him on the string.

See also: have

have more than one string to one's fiddle

Rur. to have many talents. Joe has more than one string to his fiddle. He's a good painter, and he also cooks and fixes cars. This job involves a lot of different duties. We'll need to hire someone who has more than one string to his fiddle.

See also: fiddle, have, more, one

latch string is always out

Fig. You are always welcome. Come by anytime. The latch string is always out. No need to call before you come over. For you folks, the latch string is always out.

See also: always, latch, out

pull (some) strings and pull a few strings

to use influence (with someone to get something done). I can get it done easily by pulling a few strings. Is it possible to get anything done around here without pulling some strings?

See also: pull

streak of bad luck and string of bad luck

a series of events that are only bad luck. After a long string of bad luck, we finally got a lucky break.

See also: bad, luck, streak

streak of good luck and string of good luck

a series of fortunate events. After a series of failures, we started out on a streak of good luck.

See also: good, luck, streak

string someone along

to maintain someone's attention or interest, probably insincerely. You are just stringing me along because you like to borrow my car. You are not a real friend. Rachel strung her along for the sake of old times.

See also: along

string someone up

to hang someone. The sheriff swore he would string Tex up whenever he caught him. He never strung up Tex.

See also: up

string something out 

1. Lit. to unwind, stretch, or straighten something, such as wire, and extend it. The workers strung the wires out before installing them. They strung out the wires first.

2. Fig. to cause something to take more time than it ought to. Is there any good reason to string this meeting out any longer? Don't string out the meetings so long.

See also: out

string something together

to connect things, such as beads, together, as with string. I spent all afternoon stringing beads together. My pearls broke and I had to take them to a jeweler to have them strung together again.

See also: together

string along (with someone)

1. to follow with someone. Do you mind if I string along with you? I don't mind if you string along.

2. to agree with someone's policies and actions. Okay. I will string along with you this time, but I don't know about the future. I would appreciate it if you would string along just this one time.

See also: along

tied to one's mother's apron strings

Fig. dominated by one's mother; dependent on one's mother. Tom is still tied to his mother's apron strings. Isn't he a little old to be tied to his mother's apron strings?

See also: apron, tie

with no strings attached and without any strings attached

Fig. unconditionally; with no obligations or conditions attached. My parents gave me use of their car without any strings attached. I will accept this job only if there are no strings attached.

See also: attached

---

another string to your bow  (British & Australian)

an extra skill or qualification which you can use if you cannot use your main one If you can teach English as well as yoga, it's another string to your bow. (British & Australian)

See also: another, bow

be tied to your mother's apron strings

if someone, usually a man, is tied to their mother's apron strings, they still need their mother and cannot think or act independently He's 30 but he's still tied to his mother's apron strings.

See also: apron, tie

have somebody on a string

to completely control someone's behaviour She can get him to do anything she wants - she's got him on a string.

See also: have

hold the purse strings

to control the spending of a family's or an organization's money In our house it was my mother who held the purse strings.

See also: hold, purse

How long is a piece of string?  (British & Australian)

something that you say when someone asks you a question that you cannot answer about how big something is or how much time something will take 'So how long does a project like that take?' 'How long's a piece of string?'

See also: how, long, piece

no strings (attached)

if there are no strings attached to an offer or arrangement, there is nothing that is unpleasant or not convenient that you have to accept in order to get the advantage from the offer It's very rare that you get a loan that size with no strings attached. The donation has no strings attached, so the charity is free to use it for whatever purpose it chooses.

See pull strings, pull the strings

pull strings

to secretly use the influence that you have over important people in order to get something or to help someone I may be able to pull a few strings for you if you need the document urgently.

See also: pull

pull the strings

to be in control of an organization, often secretly I'd really like to know who's pulling the strings in that organization, because it's not the elected committee.

See also: pull

the first string  (American informal)

the group of people who are regularly chosen to play in the best sports team, or to do the most important work in a job He didn't make first string on the football team until his senior year at college. (American informal)

See know the first thing about

See also: first

---

no strings attached

no special demands or limits that you have to accept The donation has no strings attached, so the charity can use the money for whatever purpose it chooses.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form with string attached (with special demands or limits): Many special offers come with strings attached, so be aware of this before you buy.

See also: attached

pull strings

to use your influence over important people in order to get something or to help someone I may be able to pull a few strings for you if you need the document urgently.

See also: pull

pull the strings also pull somebody's strings

to control the actions of a person or group, often secretly I'd like to know who's pulling the strings in that organization, because it's not the elected committee. He wanted to make his own decision, with no one pulling his strings.

Etymology: based on a comparison with the movements of a marionette (a small model of a person or animal moved by strings by attached to its body)

See also: pull

string out something also string something out

1. to make something continue Zeb hoped he could string out his vacation as long as possible. The legal process could string this dispute out for years.

2. to be spread in a long, thin line Most of Canada's population is strung out along its border with the United States. The early fast pace soon strung the field of runners out over more than a mile.

See also: out