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means of making contact; intermediary; go-between
connections; influence; pull; good offices
「伝手」 has another reading with different meanings.
知り合いの伝手で仕事を紹介してもらった。
I had a job introduced to me through a connection.
伝手がなくて情報を集めるのに苦労した。
Without any connections, I struggled to gather information.
友人の伝手をたどって専門家に会えた。
I was able to meet an expert by following a friend's contacts.