Have someone on a string
Meaning
To completely control or manipulate another person, making them do whatever you wish.
Origin
The evocative image at the heart of "have someone on a string" stems directly from the ancient art of puppetry. For centuries, puppeteers have commanded their marionettes with unseen threads, dictating every gesture, step, and dramatic flourish. This precise, absolute control—where the puppet is utterly beholden to the master's will, performing on command—created a potent metaphor. It was only natural for this visual to migrate into language, capturing the essence of one person's complete and insidious manipulation over another, reducing the controlled individual to little more than a plaything, dancing to another's tune.
Examples
- The cunning politician seemed to have his entire party on a string, dictating every policy decision.
- Ever since she lent him money, she's had him on a string, constantly asking for favors and assistance.