putty

be putty in (one's) hands

To be easy to control or bend to one's wishes. (Putty is a very malleable material.) Oh, come on, Julia is putty in our hands—we can definitely get her to help us with this prank.
See also: hand, putty

putty head

slang A foolish, stupid, or idiotic person—i.e., someone with putty for brains. Sometimes hyphenated or spelled as a single word. It's no surprise to me that the country's economy is tanking with that putty head in charge. How can you be such a putty head about this? Only a putty-head like you would think that.
See also: head, putty

putty headed

slang Foolish; stupid; idiotic. Sometimes hyphenated or spelled as a single word. It's no surprise to me that the country's economy is tanking with that putty headed dolt in charge. How can you be so putty-headed about this?
See also: headed, putty

putty in (one's) hands

Easy to control or bend to one's wishes. (Putty is a very malleable material.) Oh, come on, Julia is putty in our hands—we can definitely get her to help us with this prank.
See also: hand, putty

up to putty

Worthless; totally ruined or gone wrong. Primarily heard in Australia. All our hard work will be up to putty if they pull their investments now. It's no wonder things have gotten so bad—the whole political system is up to putty!
See also: putty, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*putty in someone's hands

Fig. [of someone] easily influenced by someone else; excessively willing to do what someone else wishes. (Putty is soft and malleable. *Typically: be ~; seem like ~.) Bob's wife is putty in his hands. She never thinks for herself. Jane is putty in her mother's hands. She always does exactly what her mother says.
See also: hand, putty
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

putty in someone's hands

A person who is easily influenced or malleable, as in Dean adored his little granddaughter; he was putty in her hands. This metaphoric term, first recorded in 1924, transfers the malleable quality of putty to human behavior. Also see twist around one's finger.
See also: hand, putty
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

putty in your hands

If someone is putty in your hands, they will do anything you ask them to do. Simon proved to be putty in his hands. I was completely in awe of him — I was putty in his hands. Note: You can also just say that someone is putty. Sometimes he'd do something like bring her a box of chocolates and she would be putty for a week. Note: Putty is a thick paste that is used to fix sheets of glass into window frames.
See also: hand, putty
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

be like putty (or wax) in someone's hands

be easily manipulated or dominated by someone.
1975 Sam Selvon Moses Ascending Bob was there, and I gave him a little bit of crumpet, and afterwards he was like putty in my hands.
See also: hand, like, putty

up to putty

below the required standard; useless. Australian informal
See also: putty, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(like) putty in somebody’s ˈhands

(informal) willing to do anything somebody wants or tells you to do: As soon as she starts crying, I’m putty in her hands. OPPOSITE: (as) stubborn as a mule
Putty is a soft flexible substance used for fixing glass in windows.
See also: hand, putty
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be like putty in someone's hands
  • be putty in (one's) hands
  • putty in (one's) hands
  • putty in hands
  • putty in somebody's hands
  • putty in someone's hands
  • putty in your hands
  • be an easy touch
  • bend over
  • above (one's) bend
References in periodicals archive
Wall putty is a white cement-based polymer modified material which is used as a finish coat to cover unevenness and pinholes in plastered surfaces.
South Africa's Wall Putty Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast (2019-2024)
Wu and Donovan (2007) stated that when using one step conventional, the impression will be carried out with putty than wash more often so that the result will be less accurate.
DIMENSIONAL ACCURACY OF PUTTY-WASH ONE-STEP AND TWO-STEP IMPRESSION TECHNIQUE IN FABRICATION OF FIXED PARTIAL DENTURE
"These indicate that the product is technically a 'putty' and that it is well within all safety standards.
Toxic Christmas present warning as top toy fails safety tests; Over exposure can cause infertility and harm to unborn babies
However, H Grossman Ltd who produce Ghostbusters said that it was in fact a putty not a slime so fell within the acceptable range.
Argos, Smyths, Amazon and Hamleys stocking fillers fail 'toxic' safety tests; It can cause skin irritation, diarrhoea, vomiting and cramps and may also impair fertility
Noting the investigation of UK's Northamptonshire Trading Standards Service, EcoWaste said that Magnetic Putty contains 32.9 milligram/kilogram (mg/kg) of arsenic while 29 mg/kg of lead.
Group warns parents vs 'Magnetic Putty' toy for deadly arsenic, lead content
The firm's second product in the line, FIBERGRAFT BG Putty, received FDA clearance in March 2015, and comprises FIBERGRAFT BG Morsels delivered through Prosidyan's proprietary bioactive carrier, OSSIGLIDE.
Prosidyan Receives FDA Clearance of Its FIBERGRAFT BG Putty for Postero-Lateral Spinal Fusion
PentOS OI Putty will be offered in the Canadian market through our direct sales force and globally via our network of distribution partners.
Antibe Therapeutics Launches Bone Graft Substitute for Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery
OsteoSelect PLUS Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) Putty is the first 510(k) approval for Bacterin International since becoming a subsidiary of Xtant Medical and the new product will help drive the growth and provides an opportunity for increased market share.
Xtant Medical passes US FDA approval for OsteoSelect PLUS
Some 350 million Silly Putty eggs (about 5,500 tons) have been sold since 1950, according to Crayola, which acquired the brand in 1977.
Silly putty: how a bungled chemistry experiment from World War II turned into a magnificently malleable toy
Conclusion: Both putty and powder forms of de-mineralised Bone Matrix showed satisfactory results and there was no significant difference in marginal bone loss around dental implants and survival rates.
Marginal bone resorption around dental implants placed in grafted sinuses; an up-to-30-month clinical and radiological follow-up
BioReady DBM Putty is sterilized through the Cancelle SP Demineralization Process.
RTI Biologics launches BioReady DBM Putty for use in sports medicine, orthopedic, and spine surgeries
Use an endodontic file with a rubber stop to measure the space between the matrix and the processed resin.(fig 3a,3b).Mix and adapt vinyl polysiloxane putty to the bur roughened acrylic resin (fig 4) and shape to the approximate contours of the matrix.
Maxillary hollow complete denture
Information was recently released by Alvin Products about a weather-resistant metal putty that requires no mixing and can withstand temperatures up to 1000 F.
Metal filler
This scenario seems impossible, but researchers are making big strides toward developing a putty that can regenerate bone and allow the injured to function normally during the healing process.
Putty may put soldiers on fast-track to recovery
Impressions for Putty wash (using stock tray) and Monophase (using custom tray) were made and poured with Type IV Die stone.
COMPARISON OF DIMENSIONAL ACCURACY USING TWO ELASTOMERIC IMPRESSION MATERIALS IN FIXED PROSTHODONTICS