have (someone) on a string
have (someone) on a string
To have great influence over someone. If you want to have someone on a string, flattery always helps.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
have someone on a string
orkeep someone on a string
If someone has you on a string or keeps you on a string, they can make you do whatever they want, because they control you completely. It's so unfair — she keeps him on a string and he's crazy about her.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
have/keep somebody on a ˈstring
make somebody do what you want because you have control over them: Of course, he’s rich and powerful enough to keep several people on a string.This idiom refers to a puppet (= a model of a person or an animal) that is controlled with strings attached to parts of its body.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
- be left in charge (of someone or something)
- accompany (one) on a/(one's) journey
- accompany on a journey
- be put in charge (of someone or something)
- a stranger to (someone or something)
- be out of (one's) league
- be out of somebody's league
- be in bad with (someone)
- (one) puts (one's) pants on one leg at a time
- bank on someone