# loosen the purse strings

idiom

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

## Meaning

To increase spending or allow increased spending; to relax control of spending.

## Examples

- The company decided to loosen the purse strings for the holiday party.
- After years of strict saving, the family finally loosened the purse strings to pay for a long-awaited vacation.
- The government eventually loosened the purse strings, allocating significant funds to revitalize the crumbling infrastructure of the city.

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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.