strings /strɪŋz/► SEE ALL(with) no strings attached(tied to) your mother’s, wife’s, etc. apron stringshave another string/more strings to your bowpull strings (for sb)pull the stringscontrol/hold the purse strings ●(with) no ˈstrings attached ( without ˈstrings) with no special rules, conditions or limits不带附加条件；无任何限制◆I got a loan of $5 000 with no strings attached. 我得到了一笔 5 000 美元的贷款，无任何附加条件。◆It was a relationship without strings (= without responsibility or commitment) which suited them both. 这种没有太多约束限制的关系对他们两个人都适合。●(tied to) your mother’s, wife’s, etc. ˈapron strings(too much under) the influence and control of sb, especially your mother, wife, etc.（深受）母亲（或妻子等）的影响及控制◆The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington’s apron strings.英国首相对华盛顿政府简直唯命是从。●have another string/more strings to your bow (BrE) something else that you can use or do if the thing you are using or doing fails另有办法；有几手准备◆If I don’t succeed as an actor, I’ve got another string to my bow because I’m a trained music teacher.要是当不成演员，我还有另一条路可走，因为我还是个训练有素的音乐教师。●pull ˈstrings (for sb) (NAmE alsopull ˈwires) (informal) use your influence in order to get an advantage for sb在幕后拉线；暗中施加影响；（为某人）走后门◆She doesn’t want me to pull any strings for her; she says she prefers to be offered a place on her own merit.她不让我为她托人帮忙，她说她想凭自己的实力找工作。◆I’m sure his uncle in the BBC must have pulled strings for him.我相信他在英国广播公司的叔叔一定为他打通了关系。●pull the ˈstrings(secretly) control the actions of other people（幕后）操纵；（暗中）控制◆I don’t understand this situation at all. I want to know exactly who is pulling the strings.我完全搞不懂这里的情况，我想知道是谁在幕后操纵。NOTE These two expressions refer to the strings that are attached to a puppet (= a model of a person or an animal) that you pull to make different parts of its body move.这两个表达法源于木偶（puppet）戏里的拉线，线一动，木偶就跟着动。●control/hold the ˈpurse strings (informal) be the person who controls the amount of money spent and the way in which it is spent掌握经济大权；掌管钱财◆I’m the one who controls the purse strings in this office, and you must come to me if you want any more money.办公室里由我控制经济大权，要是你需要更多资金就得来找我。