tirer les ficelles

to pull the strings

→ tirer
phrase Rare #46,416
to pull the strings An idiom meaning to secretly control or influence events, often from behind the scenes. The subject is usually the person in control; for example, « Qui tire les ficelles ? » means “Who is pulling the strings?”
FR: C’est lui qui tire les ficelles, hein ?
EN: He’s the one pulling the strings, right?