control the purse strings
To dictate the spending of a given group, such as a family, company, country, etc. After my dad's gambling problem came to light, my mother started to control the purse strings. The finance department controls the purse strings around here. We've fallen behind schedule because the boss controls the purse strings and won't let us spend any more money on this project.
hold the purse strings
To dictate the spending of a given group, such as a family, company, country, etc. After my dad's gambling problem came to light, my mother started holding the purse strings. The finance department holds the purse strings around here. We've fallen behind schedule because the boss holds the purse strings and won't let us spend any more money on this project.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
control the purse strings
and hold the purse stringsFig. to be in charge of the money in a business or a household. I control the purse strings at our house. Mr. Williams is the treasurer. He controls the purse strings.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
hold the purse strings
COMMON If you hold the purse strings, you control the way that money is spent in a particular family, organization, or country. Six out of ten women think that financial institutions treat them like idiots, even though they usually hold the domestic purse strings. Note: People sometimes use control instead of hold. His department controls the purse strings, and he will make sure that other departments spend money to meet targets he has set. Note: This expression is often varied. For instance, you can talk about someone's hold on the purse strings or control of the purse strings. His manager was in sole control of the purse strings.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
hold the purse strings
have control of expenditure.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
control/hold the ˈpurse strings
(informal) be the person who controls the amount of money spent and the way in which it is spent: I’m the one who controls the purse strings in this office, and you must come to me if you want any more money.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017