nose of wax

nose of wax (plural noses of wax)

1. (obsolete) A person who is pliant and easily influenced.
   • 1639, Philip Massinger, The Unnatural Combat, act 5, scene 2:

     […] but vows with you being like / To your religion, a nose of wax / To be turn'd every way […]

   • 1825 October 24, Galignani's Messenger, number 3305, Paris: [John] A[nthony Galignani] and W[illiam] Galignani, page 2:

     It is contended indeed by some reasoners, that we must have listened to the Ottoman complaint, on the broad principle of the law of nations. This sounds well, but in this, as in many other cases, the aforesaid law of nations is a nose of wax, and twistable into any form.

• little girl, mollusc, pushover