marionette strings
Control a figure
The strings attached to a marionette puppet, manipulated from above to control its movements.
Almost always used figuratively to describe hidden control over a person or situation: Who's pulling the marionette strings here?
The image suggests someone appears to act independently but is actually directed by another.
Often shortened to just strings: pulling the strings.
- puppetControlled performing figure
- puppet masterOne controlling figures backstage
- controlAuthority to direct
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- behind the scenesOut of public view
wooden · wooden doll · tangled · master · fingers · pull · dance · jerky · suspended · twitch · wire · invisible · handler · limbs · crossbar · attached · dangling · theater
- puppetryhand puppet, hand puppets, puppet shows, puppet show, puppeteer
marionette stringshand puppet
Worn figure you animate
glove puppet · finger puppet · sock puppet · ventriloquist dummy · shadow puppet
marionette stringsfree will
Autonomous choice capacity
autonomy · self-determination · independence · agency · self-direction
marionette, strings, string, strung, stringy, stringed, stringer, stringing, marionettes