tighten the purse strings

• tighten the purse-strings
• tighten the pursestrings

tighten the purse strings

1. (idiomatic, colloquial) To decrease spending or disallow increased spending; to increase control of spending.
   • 1894, New Zealand Parliament, Parliamentary debates, page 710:

     ...would have the opposite effect entirely, and would tighten the purse-strings of capitalists and the employers of...

   • 1989 July 24, editorial, “Companies still backing the efforts of net managers”, in Network World, volume 6, number 29, page 28:

     It's hard for upper management to tighten the purse strings on a project that promises to save money, boost productivity and enable employees to respond better and faster to changing competitive situations.

• loosen the purse strings

• hold the purse strings