to control the purse strings
2
5.8
- idiom
- Informal
:
controlar las finanzas
- Everyone always blames the presidents for the deficits when we all know that Congress controls the purse strings.
- people who control the purse strings
Examples
-
No one should need reminding that Congress controls the purse strings.
Blog text (9) -
The GOP-controlled House still controls the purse strings.
Blog text (10) -
From 2007 until 2010, they controlled the purse strings.
Blog text (8) -
By joining the political process, environmental health professionals can get to know the people who control the purse strings.
Academic text (2003) -
The Republicans won the House and thus control the purse strings.
Blog text (5) -
You were talking about controlling the purse strings.
Blog text (28) -
Wasn't your point about the party controlling the purse strings?
Blog text (28) -
You don't control the purse strings; the Republicans do.
Blog text (5) -
That means Morsi and the Parliament control the purse strings, not the Armed Forces.
Blog text (11) -
The accountant is responsible for controlling the purse strings of the charity, ensuring funds are spent wisely.
How Responsible
Surface Forms
Morphology
control + the + purse + string
Knowing 'control', 'purse' and 'string(s)' will evoke the image of cords that open or secure a money pouch, so a learner can plausibly infer this expression refers to controlling access to money. However, the phrase is a conventionalized metaphor ('purse strings' = financial authority) rather than a literal composition, so the exact sense of managing household or organizational funds is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Control the purse strings may come from the old image of a small money bag tied with strings, where whoever held the purse or pulled the strings could open it and spend the money. So, the phrase now means 'to decide or manage who spends the money'.