purse strings

plural noun

1. the right or power to manage the disposition of money.

   in control of the family purse strings.

purse strings

plural noun

1. control of finance or expenditure (esp in such phrases as hold or control the purse strings )

Word History and Origins

Origin of purse strings¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hold the purse strings, to have the power to determine how money shall be spent.

2. loosen / tighten the purse strings, to increase or decrease expenditures or the availability of money.

   The budget committee is in the process of tightening the purse strings.

Financial resources or control of them, as in His mother doesn't want to let go of the purse strings because he may make some foolish investments. This expression is often extended to, as in As long as Dad holds the purse strings, we have to consider his wishes, or The company is tightening the purse strings and will not be hiring many new people this year. The purse strings in this idiom are the means of opening and closing a drawstring purse. [Early 1400s]

Example Sentences

He’s done that mainly by using OMB, the White House office that oversees spending, to control the day-to-day purse strings of federal agencies — and deliberately keeping Congress in the dark along the way.

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There were also tensions and petty jealousies between different sets of increasingly overwhelmed foster parents and with Sothea, who controlled the project’s purse strings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Lower GST rates coincide with the beginning of a long festive season when Indians typically open their purse strings to buy everything from new cars to clothes.

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Now that is over, it's not just the government's purse strings that have been set, but the political priorities alongside.

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The EPA is potentially facing tighter purse strings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times