Possible Clues:

• It's stringy and twisty
• One might get fed with this and its lid with strings attached
• Stringed instrument - cheat
• It''s not honest, even with strings attached
• One must bow to this sort of dishonesty
• Swindle with informal violin
• Get by cheating, or handle aimlessly
• Violin - racket
• Cheat on (e.g. expenses)
• Play with the horse's hair over the cat's gut