04.02.2018 - By Mark Rösler: deutscher Muttersprachler & Deutschlehrer, Genießer des Lebens und Philosoph
Today, we talk about the German idiom “die Fäden ziehen”. What does “die Fäden ziehen” mean?
to pull the stringsIdiomHyphenationdie Fä·den zie·hen
Meanings[1] exerting the decisive influence from the background, actually having the power
[2] literally: removing threads (e.g. in a sewn wound)
Origin[1] The phrase is based on the idea of the puppet player, who invisible to the audience pulls the strings and thus moves the puppets.
Synonyms[1] to lead, to steer, to control