pull the strings

/pˈʊl ðə stɹˈɪŋz/

to pull the strings

to have control over a person or thing, often in way that is not obvious

synonyms : manipulate

Examples

1. Or is there some non-physical part of you that's pulling the strings but could live outside of your biological body?

2. Who do you think pulled the strings?

3. It turned out that his brother was the person pulling the strings behind the operation.

4. Rockefeller truly was still pulling the strings, and for him, a rose of another name was just as sweet.