control the purse strings

(redirected from controlled the purse strings)

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.

control the purse strings

and hold the purse strings

Fig. 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.

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.

See also: control, hold, purse, string

References in periodicals archive ?

A friend said: "She controlled the purse strings so kept him in line.

Corrie Kev money hell 'began after break-up'

Albion tended not to spend too much in January while former Chairman Jeremy Peace controlled the purse strings.

Pulis is looking for more of the same

She told how Rennard held an "almighty amount of power" in the party and controlled the purse strings.

'It's been like telling the party faithful that Santa Claus isn't real' SUSAN'S STORY

Gone are the days when a council controlled the purse strings, always with their constituents in mind.

Letter: Your Say - Cooper, you've scored very highly

The bill was then passed by the Assembly, but was denied funding by the Senate, which controlled the purse strings of the Roman government.

Rise of the welfare/warfare state: the death throes of the once-great Roman Republic began when its leadership embarked on militarism and exploited class envy to consolidate power

His dad had a controversial 20-month spell on the Police Authority, the body that controlled the purse strings of the RUC.

DINGLE'S DAD WEDS TOP COP

While males in the benefit society and among the Board controlled the purse strings, Carson makes it clear that women were in charge of day-to-day operations, largely governing the type of care, attention, and internal culture of the small facility.

Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit: The History of the St. Francis Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania