Every spring, the women of New York leave the foolish choices of the past behind, and look forward to the future. This is known as Fashion Week.
每年春天,纽约市的女人们都将一切抛于脑后,憧憬未来。这就是众所周知的时装周。
Samantha: Oh, there we are.
哦,我们的座位在那边。
Sharlot: We are in the front row?
我们在最前排?
Samantha: I had to pull some strings.
我走了点关系。
——《欲望都市》
pull strings (暗中)走关系
If you want to see our boss I can pull strings for you.
如果你想见我们的老板,我可以暗中帮忙。
String这个词原意是“线,绳,或者(乐器的)弦”等,pull strings的字面意思为“拉线、拉动绳子”,引申开来指利用人与人之间的关系或者影响力达到某种目的。类似的表达还有,have/keep somebody on a string(操纵、玩弄或欺骗某人),hold the purse strings(掌握财权),tied to one's wife's apron strings(受妻子操纵)等。
更多例子:
The police released him after his lawyer pulled strings downtown.
他的律师利用城里的关系之后,警察就把他释放了。
He got a plush job in City Hall after his father pulled strings.
他父亲利用私人关系后,他在市政府里谋到一个轻松的工作。
Mary pulled strings and got us two theater tickets.
玛丽走了后门,为我们搞到了两张戏票。