English Explanatory Dictionary

putty in someone's hands

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. One who is readily manipulated or controlled by another person; a puppet.

Pronunciation

En-au-putty in someone's hands.ogg

Word forms

putty in someone's hands putty in the hands of someone

Etymology

A metaphor likening the easy malleability of putty to the easy manipulability of the person. First use appears c. 1867.

Synonyms

putty in someone's fingers

Related words

pushover wimp wuss eat out of someone's hand wrap around one's little finger
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