tirare per i capelli

Italian[edit]

Literally, “to pull by the hair.”

to convince someone to do something that they would rather not do; to coax; to drag in
L'ha chiesto più volte, ma non è riuscito a tirarla per i capelli.
He kept asking her, but he could not get her to do it.
to contrive; to reach
- 2016, Stranger Things, season 1, episode 3:
  Jim Hopper (David Harbour): Forse Will... si è trovato nel posto sbagliato nel momento sbagliato e ha visto qualcosa che non doveva. / Calvin Powell (Rob Morgan): È un po' tirato per i capelli.
  Maybe Will... was in the wrong place at the wrong time and he saw something that he shouldn't have. / It's a reach.
  (literally, “Maybe Will... found himself in the wrong place in the wrong moment and he saw something that he should not have. / It is a bit contrived.”)