hold the purse strings
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
English
[edit ]Alternative forms
[edit ]Pronunciation
[edit ]Verb
[edit ]hold the purse strings (third-person singular simple present holds the purse strings , present participle holding the purse strings , simple past and past participle held the purse strings )
- (idiomatic , colloquial ) To be in control of spending; to have financial power and responsibility.
- 1787, James Madison, The writings of James Madison: comprising his public papers and his private correspondence..., page 158:
- The other branch was more immediately the representatives of the people, and it was a maxim that the people ought to hold the Purse-strings.
- 1985, Jerome Hellmuth, Coping with parents, page 62:
- The power structure of the family is being shared by wives and husbands, mothers and fathers. Both hold the purse strings.
Related terms
[edit ]Translations
[edit ]to be in control of expenditure
- Finnish: pitää kukkaron nyörit tiukalla
- French: tenir les cordons de la bourse (fr) , tenir la caisse (fr)
- Polish: trzymać rękę na kasie impf
See also
[edit ]- pull strings (shares a theme of control)
Further reading
[edit ]- "hold the purse strings", in Lexico , Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.