hold the purse strings

== English == === Alternative forms === hold the pursestrings hold the purse-strings === Pronunciation === === Verb === hold the purse strings (third-person singular simple present holds the purse strings, present participle holding the purse strings, simple past and past participle held the purse strings) (idiomatic, colloquial) To be in control of spending; to have financial power and responsibility. ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== pull strings (shares a theme of control) === Further reading === “hold the purse strings”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.