purser-strings

The shopkeeper loosens the purser-strings to buy new supplies.

Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • Control over financial expenditure: "purser-strings" refers to the authority or power to manage and decide how money is spent, often within an organization, household, or government.
   • Literal meaning: The strings used to close a purse or bag for carrying money, symbolizing financial control.

Usage Examples

• (She controls the spending decisions.)
• (They limited spending to save money.)
• (They allowed more spending.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hold the purser-strings": to have control over financial matters.

  • The treasurer holds the purser-strings for the club. (The treasurer manages the club's funds.)

• "to tighten the purser-strings": to reduce spending or become more frugal.

  • After the recession, many families tightened the purser-strings. (They cut back on expenses.)

• "to loosen the purser-strings": to increase spending or become more generous.

  • The charity loosened the purser-strings to fund more projects. (They allocated more money.)

Variants and Related Words

• Purse (n): a small bag for carrying money.

  • She took the coins out of her purse. (A small money container.)

• Purse-string (adj): relating to financial control (used in compound terms like "purse-string policy").

  • The government implemented a purse-string policy to curb inflation. (A policy controlling spending.)

Synonyms

• Financial control: the authority over money management.
• Budgetary power: the ability to decide on spending limits.
• Fiscal authority: the power to manage public or private funds.

Phrasal Verbs

• Hold the purser-strings: to be in charge of spending.

  • He holds the purser-strings for the entire department. (He controls the budget.)

• Tighten the purser-strings: to restrict spending.

  • The school tightened the purser-strings after funding cuts. (They reduced expenses.)

• Loosen the purser-strings: to allow more spending.

  • The investor loosened the purser-strings for the startup. (They provided more capital.)

Related Idioms

• Hold the purse strings: to control how money is spent (variant spelling).

  • The manager holds the purse strings for the project. (She decides the budget.)

• Cut the purse strings: to reduce or eliminate financial support.

  • The parent cut the purse strings for their adult child. (They stopped providing money.)

• Pull the purse strings: to manage or influence spending.

  • The director pulls the purse strings for the film. (He controls the funding.)