loosen the purse strings

present singular third person loosens the purse strings · participle present loosening the purse strings · participle past loosened the purse strings · past loosened the purse strings · alternative loosen the pursestrings · alternative loosen the purse-strings

1. colloquialidiomaticTo increase spending or allow increased spending; to relax control of spending.

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

   1848, Parliament of Great Britain, “The Parliamentary debates”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), volume 96, page cdlvii

   1 more example

   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...

   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

   Antonyms: tighten the purse strings