1 purse strings | Definition of purse strings

purse strings

plural noun

Definition of purse strings

: financial resources also : control over these resources

Examples of purse strings in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For some, frustrated by increasingly glaring failures in Germany’s housing market, power sector, and rail and road infrastructure, the need for the government to loosen the purse strings is undeniable. Geoffrey Smith, Fortune, "Are Fears of a German Recession Overblown? 5 Reasons Not to Worry—Yet," 30 Aug. 2019 The festive season of Dusshera and Diwali, around which time consumers generally loosen their purse strings, is also due in October. Kuwar Singh, Quartz India, "India’s automobile slowdown is trickling down to a host of allied sectors," 14 Aug. 2019 Diversity has been the buzzword in Huntsville for years, the desire for the city to grow beyond its federal government roots and build at least a supplemental economy not tethered to Washington's purse strings. Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, "How Torch Technologies helps define Huntsville as a federal city," 6 Aug. 2019 And one member of the Pritzker family is tightening her GOP purse strings, angered over Trump’s transgender military restrictions, Vanity Fair reports. Lisa Donovan, chicagotribune.com, "The Spin: Mayor Lightfoot's next trip - to New York - a sign of growing political footprint," 14 June 2019 In 2013, Merced County joined the line of 36 applicants vying for funding from the community corrections board, the group that holds the purse strings for state jail funding. Jason Pohl, ProPublica, "Deadly Delays in Jail Construction Cost Lives and Dollars Across California," 20 July 2019 The Congress member in control of the purse strings for the census is the House’s José Serrano, a Democrat from the Bronx. Heather Timmons, Quartz, "Trump literally does not have the money to add citizenship to the census," 11 July 2019 But to parents holding the purse strings, price often matters most when shopping for back to school. Charisse Jones, USA TODAY, "Don't get sidetracked, carry coupons and focus on price, say back-to-school shoppers," 10 July 2019 The Reds have been reported by virtually everyone who is 'in the know' at the club to be tightening the purse strings this summer, with just one or two minor changes to the squad generally expected before the transfer window closes. SI.com, "Liverpool Set to Launch Bid for Real Madrid Star," 5 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'purse strings.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of purse strings

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with purse strings