putty in someone's hands

• putty in someone's fingers, putty in the hands of someone

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

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putty in someone's hands (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic, of a person) One who is readily manipulated or controlled by another person; a puppet.
   • 1894 May 27, Harold Frederic, “Marsena”, in New York Times, retrieved 27 July 2010, page 19:

     Why, Marseny, here, he wan't no more than so much putty in her hands.

   • 1941 December 11, “Caroline Chatfield Says”, in St. Petersburg Times, retrieved 27 July 2010, page 17:

     So long as she behaves in a way to keep his love and respect he's putty in her hands.

   • 2007 August 5, Kitty Empire, “Nothing compares 2 Prince”, in guardian.co.uk, retrieved 27 July 2010:

     [H]e clocks on at 8.30 pm with the opening guitar notes of his most famous song, ‘Purple Rain’. Everyone is instantly putty in his hands.

• Sometimes used to describe a submissive male in a relationship with a domineering woman.

• pushover, wimp, wuss

• eat out of someone's hand
• wrap around one's little finger