 It's a strange construction in English without a specific origin, although there is one use I found in 1904 describes a stage scene with, quote, wooden angels moved steadily by jerks across the painted sky. And you can just imagine, like, a rusty pulley and rope as the angels go across the top of the stage for the show. But it's the same idea. Like, you pull, they move. You just pause until you pull again, and they move. But...