hold/control the purse strings

phrase

: to make the decisions about how money is spent

The museum's board of directors holds/controls the purse strings.

Examples of hold/control the purse strings in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Much like in European soccer, there will be those who advocate for large private investment, and there will be others who argue fans should hold the purse strings. — Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

To win the right to increase taxes, the mayor has to prove to those who hold the purse strings that his government can be trusted with the funds. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025

The corporations that control the purse strings don’t like it. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024

Do not let the MTA control the purse strings on congestion pricing. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2024

A lot of HBCUs, including yours, are in states where Republicans hold the purse strings. — Avishay Artsy, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018