pull strings
pull wires
wire-puller
wire-pulling
To secretly use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain your wishes.
If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull strings for you.
Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the crowded hotel.
Bill got a ticket for speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed.
It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to come to the party.
purse strings
Care or control of money.
Dad holds the purse strings in our family.
The treasurer refused to let go of the club's purse strings.
red herring
A false scent laid down in order to deceive; a phony or misleading story designed to cause confusion.
Отвлекающий след, маневр; лживая история придуманная чтобы вызвать путаницу.
That story about the president having an affair was a red herring created by the opposition in order to discredit him.
It was a red herring yesterday.
Это был отвлекающий маневр вчера.
The detectives were following a red herring.
Детективы шли по ложному следу.
ring a bell
To make you remember something; sound familiar.
Сделать так, что вы запомните что-то; быть смутно знакомым.
Not even the cat's meowing seemed to ring a bell with Judy. She still forgot to feed him.
When Ann told Jim the name of the new teacher it rang a bell, and Jim said, "I went to school with a James Carson."
John Bentley? The name rings a bell but I don't remember him.
Джон Бентли? Я точно слышал это имя раньше, но я не помню человека.
This street rings a bell, but I don't remember when I was here.
Эта улица кажется мне знакомой, но я не помню, когда я был здесь.
ring in
To bring in (someone or something) from the outside dishonestly or without telling; often: hire and introduce under a false name.
Bob offered to ring him in on the party by pretending he was a cousin from out of town.
No wonder their team beat us; they rang in a professional to pitch for them under the name of Dan Smith.
To ring a special clock that records the time you work.
We have to ring in at the shop before eight o'clock in the morning.
ring out the old year and ring in the new
Праздновать конец одного года и начало следующего.
To ring out the old year and ring in the new they went to the most expensive restaurant.
Они отправились в самый дорогой ресторан, чтобы проводить старый год и встретить новый.
ring out
To ring a special clock that records the time you leave work.
Charles can't leave early in his new job; he has to ring out.
ring the changes
To say or do the same thing in different ways; repeat the same idea in many ways.
David wanted a new bicycle and he kept ringing the changes on it all day until his parents got angry at him.
A smart girl saves money on clothes by learning to ring the changes on a few dresses and clothes.