purse strings

purse strings
1. the right or power to manage the disposition of money: in control of the family purse strings.
2. hold the purse strings, to have the power to determine how money shall be spent.
3. loosen or 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.
[1375-1425; late ME]

* * *

purse strings
◇ A person, organization, or government that holds/controls the purse strings makes the decisions about how money is spent.

The museum's board of directors holds/controls the purse strings.

When a person, organization, or government tightens the purse strings, less money is available for spending.

School administrators are already tightening (the) purse strings.

When a person, organization, or government loosens the purse strings, more money is available for spending.

Companies are expected to loosen the purse strings as the economy improves.

• • •
Main Entry: ↑purse
————————
purse strings — see ↑purse, 1
• • •
Main Entry: ↑string

* * *

the ˈpurse strings [purse strings] noun plural
a way of referring to money and how it is controlled or spent

•

Who

holds the purse strings

in your house?

•

The government will have to

tighten the purse strings (= spend less)

.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • purse strings — n. a drawstring for closing certain purses hold the purse strings to be in control of the money tighten the purse strings or loosen the purse strings to make funds less (or more) readily available …   English World dictionary

  • purse strings — purse′ strings n. pl. cvb the right or power to determine the disposition of financial resources: Who holds the purse strings in your family?[/ex] • Etymology: 1450–1500 …   From formal English to slang

  • purse strings — 1. the right or power to manage the disposition of money: in control of the family purse strings. 2. hold the purse strings, to have the power to determine how money shall be spent. 3. loosen or tighten the purse strings, to increase or decrease… …   Universalium

  • purse strings — N PLURAL: the N If you say that someone holds or controls the purse strings, you mean that they control the way that money is spent in a particular family, group, or country. Women control the purse strings of most families... The bank has been… …   English dictionary

  • purse strings — {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of the club s purse strings./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • purse strings — {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of the club s purse strings./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • purse strings — n. finances to control, hold the purse strings * * * [ pɜːsˌstrɪŋz] hold the purse strings [ finances ] to control …   Combinatory dictionary

  • purse\ strings — noun Care or control of money. Dad holds the purse strings in our family. The treasurer refused to let go of the club s purse strings …   Словарь американских идиом

  • purse strings — /ˈpɜs strɪŋz/ (say pers stringz) plural noun 1. the strings by which a purse is closed. 2. the power to spend or withhold money: to control the purse strings of government spending …  

  • purse strings, the — purse ,strings, the noun the way in which money is controlled and spent by a group or organization: control the purse strings: She controls the family purse strings very tightly. tighten/loosen the purse strings (=reduce or increase the amount of …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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