wirepulling

[ wahyuhr-pool-ing ]

noun

1. an act of pulling wires.
2. the use of influence to manipulate persons or organizations, as political organizations, for one's own ends.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wirepulling¹

First recorded in 1825–35; wire + pull ( def ) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

But the differences in express rates involved in different methods of purchasing the companies would hardly recompense for the delay involved in the postal service's mastery of a new technique, in its assimilation of details which can be mastered only through experience, in tedious litigation, in political wirepulling and manipulation, and in determination of constitutionality, all of which features will accompany the establishment of a new Government postal express independent of the present express companies.

From Project Gutenberg

Two months after, by some mysterious wirepulling, cripple though he was, he began to go up as observer in the aeroplane of one of our best pilots.

From Project Gutenberg

There ensued seven days of picturesque wrangling and wirepulling, which the French press characterized almost unanimously as "scandalous."

From Time Magazine Archive

Equally out of date is the fervent wirepulling that once plagued Ivy admissions men.

From Time Magazine Archive

He did no visible wirepulling, showed no interest in kingmaking, and�except for visits with aging, trigger-tempered Teamster Chief Dan Tobin�he steered clear of smoke-filled rooms.

From Time Magazine Archive