purse strings

Purse strings is a draw string used to close a handbag, or is slang for having control over the money.

(noun)

When the wife is in charge of the money in the family and gives her husband an allowance, this is an example of when the wife has the purse strings.

See purse strings in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a drawstring for closing certain purses

See purse strings in American Heritage Dictionary 4

or purse·strings

plural noun

Financial support or resources, or control over them: the politicians who control federal purse strings; tightened the corporate purse strings.

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purse strings phrase meanings

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