ENGLISH
REFERENCE

public purse

idiom

A quantity of money collected by a government through taxation and other methods, and used for public purposes; public funds, public money.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  2. 02

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  3. 03

    common purse

    A shared or community fund.

  4. 04

    court of public opinion

    The news media and the public at large, seen as being able to deliver a judgement on someone in the manner of a judge.

  5. 05

    cut one's cloth to suit one's purse

    To settle for less when money or resources are limited.

  6. 06

    go public

    To make something public; to announce publicly or to the press.

  7. 07

    hold the purse strings

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

  8. 08

    John Q. Public

    A generic individual; some hypothetical average or ordinary citizen.

© 2026 English Reference