This is the 8489th most frequent Japanese word.
手玉
"Te-dama" (手玉) means "toying with, manipulating, or handling someone skillfully."
Here, '手玉' conveys the notion of manipulating or controlling others, emphasizing the skill or cunning required to achieve such influence.
あの子は本当に親を手玉に取るのが得意だ。
That child is really adept at manipulating their parents.
In this example, '手玉' is used to describe the act of resisting manipulation or control, demonstrating a defensive skill in interpersonal dynamics.
上司との会話で、彼は自分を手玉に取らせないことに成功した。
During the conversation with the boss, he succeeded in not letting himself be manipulated.
In this sentence, '手玉' is used metaphorically to describe the act of skillfully handling or manipulating someone, akin to the way a juggler controls balls.