purse strings

plural noun

: financial resources
also : control over these resources

Examples of purse strings in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nevertheless, many in Ukraine have displayed a determined — if perhaps grim — realpolitik at the man holding the purse strings of their military rearguard action. Alexander Smith, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024 Preckwinkle largely controls the purse strings for the state’s attorney’s office, where O’Neill Burke is hoping to boost staffing and training. A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2024 However, due to the economic climate in the country, what once had been a boom for businesses has slowed, as consumers tighten their purse strings. Jennifer Weil, WWD, 25 Oct. 2024 The survey’s author, Clare McAndrew, and staff queried more than 3,600 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) in the Americas, Europe, and Asia, and learned that high-end purchases were losing ground to less-expensive works as collectors tightened their purse strings, seeking value in volume. News Desk, Artforum, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for purse strings 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of purse strings was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near purse strings

Cite this Entry

“Purse strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/purse%20strings. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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