You may draw him which way you will, with a twine thread.

The person described is easily influenced: even a slight effort can steer their choices or behavior. The weak thread emphasizes how little resistance they offer.

The proverb can describe someone who is accommodating, but it can also suggest a troubling lack of independence. Its force depends on whether the speaker welcomes that flexibility or sees it as a weakness.

Use it to characterize someone who readily follows another person’s wishes, particularly when a small suggestion seems enough to change their mind. It may sound critical when it implies that the person is too easily led.