what does one mean by saying "pushing on a string"?

Question

Again, I turn to all of you for an explanation. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Trying to do the impossible.

Answer 2

If a string is attached to an object, you can't move the object by pushing the string, you have to pull it. Furthermore, this is a fairly easily-recognised principle. So someone said to be pushing on a string is attempting the impossible and furthermore is doing so in a case where it should be easily recognised as being impossible.

Answer 3

It means: the futility of a measure taken, specially in economy.
ORIGIN:
In the 1930s, every effort known to man was made to try to revive the American economy. But borrowers were in such dire straights that banks would not lend to them, and corporations were either in such bad ways financially or the markets were so poor that return on investment was so bad that corporations did not borrow. Therefore, the attempt to pump money into the banking system failed, and as a result, the phrase "pushing on a string" was coined to describe the futility of inflationary policies in this environment.

Answer 4

""Pushing on a string" is a phrase that has been around for over half a century. It refers to the ineffectiveness of Federal Reserve monetary policy: specifically, the FED's expansion of monetary reserves. It is said that the FED can add to its own reserves by purchasing assets – usually, government debt – but commercial banks will not take advantage of these reserves by lending out money. So, the FED's policy will not jump-start the economy. The FED can make reserves available, but it cannot force banks into converting these reserves into loans. Like a string – unfrozen, anyway – the FED's pushing on one end does not produce forward movement on the other end. "

Answer 5

You can pull on a string with results. Pushing one just causes it to crumple. In other words, a waste of time.

Answer 6

To do the impossible. Reminds me of the time I saw a guy walking down the street pulling a cabbage on a piece of string.

Approaching him I asked "Why are you pulling that cabbage on a piece of string?"

"Ever tried pushing it?" He asked laconically!

Answer 7

It's the same as nailing jelly to a tree. An unachievable goal. As opposed to kicking dead whales down the beach, which is not only a difficult task but also an unpleasant one.

Answer 8

In the context of influencing people, if a person does not want to do something, you cannot coerce them very easily. You can push all you want, but you cannot move them unless they are willing to move themselves.