# hold the purse strings

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hold-the-purse-strings
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be in control of spending; to have financial power and responsibility.

## Examples

- My mother holds the purse strings in our house.
- The board of directors holds the purse strings, so we must ask them for permission to increase our budget.
- Although the department head manages the daily operations, the chief financial officer ultimately holds the purse strings for all major corporate investments.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.