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Glite Dictionary
to loosen the purse strings

to loosen the purse strings

1 6.5
To allow someone to spend more money
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : aflojar el presupuesto
  • It's not yet clear whether the embargo on using the iPhone name will go into effect before sales of the iPhone 5 start on Friday, or if this will trigger Apple to loosen the purse strings to negotiate a settlement with iFone; but given the circumstances, it would seem that Apple has precious little leverage this time around.

Examples

  • As the holiday season approached, many retailers hoped consumers would loosen the purse strings and spend more money on gifts.

  • So he's constantly trying to find ways to trick Adam into loosening the purse strings a little bit.

  • After reviewing the budget, the manager decided to loosen the purse strings and increase funding for the new project.

  • The charity hoped that the recent success of their events would encourage donors to loosen the purse strings and give more generously.

Antonyms

to tighten the purse strings
  • Informal
1 5.8

To spend less money and control how money is used

How Generous

to loosen the purse strings
  • Informal
1 6.5

Surface Forms

loosen the purse strings infinitive
loosened the purse strings past
loosened the purse strings past participle
loosening the purse strings present participle
loosens the purse strings third person singular

Morphology

loosen + the + purse + strings

The phrase evokes a concrete image (loosening strings that hold a purse closed) so learners who know 'loosen', 'purse' and 'strings' can get a metaphorical hint that money will be released. However the conventionalized mapping from that image to the technical idea of relaxing spending controls is idiomatic and not fully predictable without prior exposure. The fact that many languages use a similar metaphor makes it partially transparent but still dependent on conventional usage.

Etymology

Loosen the purse strings comes from old coin purses with tight cords that kept money inside. If you loosen the purse strings, coins can fall out and be spent. That's why it means 'allow more money to be spent'.