lever
noun [ C ]
uk/ˈliːvər/ us/ˈlevər/a bar or handle which moves around a fixed point, so that one end of it can be pushed or pulled in order to control a machine or move a heavy object:
Lower the lever to lock the machine into place.
ECONOMICS, POLITICS, FINANCE
something you use to try to persuade someone to do what you want or to get the result you want:
Using trade or other economic tools as a lever of diplomacy is not new.
a lever for (doing) sth If your mortgage offer is less than you wanted, it may be a useful lever for getting the price of the house down.
lever
verb [ T ]
uk/ˈliːvər/ us/ˈlevər/to try to persuade someone to do what you want, or try to get a particular result:
lever sb into (doing) sth But the government has not allowed the market to lever employers into that position.