loosen the purse strings

phrase

: to make more money available for spending
Companies are expected to loosen the purse strings as the economy improves.

Examples of loosen the 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.
The global financial crisis hit the economy just as the government was about to loosen the purse strings. — John Rapley, Foreign Affairs, 10 Jan. 2023

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Loosen the purse strings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loosen%20the%20purse%20strings. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster