German

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Etymology

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From Strippe (string, cord) +‎ ziehen (to pull) +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈʃtʁɪpn̩ˌt͡siːɐ/, [ˈʃtʁɪpm̩ˌt͡siːɐ]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Strip‧pen‧zie‧her

Noun

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Strippenzieher m (strong, genitive Strippenziehers, plural Strippenzieher, feminine Strippenzieherin)

  1. (idiomatic) string puller, puppet master, mastermind, svengali
    Synonyms: Drahtzieher, Hintermann

Usage notes

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  • Strippenzieher is used especially in contexts such as politics or economy, while Drahtzieher is preferred in more explicitly illegal cases like organised crime and terrorism.

Declension

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Further reading

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