Bedeutung
To secretly control a situation or group of people.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Poland, the term 'układ' (the system/arrangement) is often used alongside this idiom to describe a web of informal connections that control business and politics. In modern Polish offices, 'pociąganie za sznurki' is often associated with HR departments or high-level assistants who have the ear of the CEO. During the partitions of Poland, many secret societies 'pociągały za sznurki' to organize uprisings against occupying forces. Polish political talk shows frequently use this phrase to speculate on the influence of party leaders who do not hold ministerial positions.
Use the perfective for 'favors'
When asking someone to use their influence for a specific favor, always use 'pociągnąć' (e.g., 'Czy możesz pociągnąć za sznurki?').
Negative Connotations
Be careful using this about your boss in their presence; it implies they are manipulative or not acting transparently.
Bedeutung
To secretly control a situation or group of people.
Use the perfective for 'favors'
When asking someone to use their influence for a specific favor, always use 'pociągnąć' (e.g., 'Czy możesz pociągnąć za sznurki?').
Negative Connotations
Be careful using this about your boss in their presence; it implies they are manipulative or not acting transparently.
The 'Układ' context
In Poland, this idiom is often linked to conspiracy theories. Use it sparingly in academic writing unless discussing sociology.
Teste dich selbst
Uzupełnij zdanie odpowiednią formą idiomu.
Nie martw się o pozwolenie, mój tata ________ za sznurki w urzędzie i wszystko będzie gotowe na jutro.
We need the future perfective form because it's a one-time action that will be completed.
Wybierz zdanie, które najlepiej opisuje 'szarą eminencję'.
Kim jest szara eminencja?
A 'grey eminence' is the quintessential 'string-puller'.
Dopasuj sytuację do użycia idiomu.
W której sytuacji użyjesz idiomu 'pociągać za sznurki'?
The idiom refers to hidden control/influence.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
3 AufgabenNie martw się o pozwolenie, mój tata ________ za sznurki w urzędzie i wszystko będzie gotowe na jutro.
We need the future perfective form because it's a one-time action that will be completed.
Kim jest szara eminencja?
A 'grey eminence' is the quintessential 'string-puller'.
W której sytuacji użyjesz idiomu 'pociągać za sznurki'?
The idiom refers to hidden control/influence.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenNot necessarily rude, but it is cynical. It suggests that things aren't happening fairly or transparently.
Yes, like 'pulling strings' to help a friend get a job, but the action itself is still seen as 'unofficial'.
Being a 'marionetka' (puppet) or 'pionek' (pawn).
Yes, 'ciągnąć' is also used, but 'pociągać' is more common for the ongoing state of influence.
Verwandte Redewendungen
szara eminencja
similarA powerful person who acts behind the scenes.
marionetka
contrastA person controlled by others.
mieć plecy
similarTo have 'back' (connections/protection).
trzymać rękę na pulsie
builds onTo keep one's finger on the pulse.
