English

Alternative forms

• loosen the pursestrings
• loosen the purse-strings

Verb

loosen the purse strings

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) To increase spending or allow increased spending; to relax control of spending.
   • 1848, Parliament of Great Britain, “The Parliamentary debates”, in (Please provide the title of the work), volume 96‎, page cdlvii:

     He thought the effect of this language from the Prime Minister had been to loosen the purse-strings of the Treasury.

   • 2004, The 9/11 Commission report, final report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (authorized edition), National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, page 358:

     Proponents of the counterterrorism agenda might respond by being less inclined to loosen the purse strings than they would have been if offered a convincing...

Antonyms

• tighten the purse strings

Translations

See also

• hold the purse strings
• loosen the apron strings