to control or influence someone or something secretly
jemanden oder etwas heimlich kontrollieren oder beeinflussen (jemanden oder etwas heimlich kontrollieren oder beeinflussen)
"He got the job because his uncle pulled the strings."
"Er hat den Job bekommen, weil sein Onkel die Fäden zog." (Er hat den Job bekommen, weil sein Onkel **die Fäden zog**.)
to be the first to do something or lead the way
to ruin a chance or opportunity by mistake
to disapprove of something; to have a negative opinion
to persuade someone to do something by being persistent
to make someone understand what you mean
to change from one system or option to another