Ⅰ.
hold the purse strings
► to control when and how money is spent: »
Head office holds the purse strings, and we'll need approval to buy any new equipment.
Main Entry: ↑hold
Ⅱ.
hold/control the purse strings
► to be in charge of a family's or organization's money and responsible for deciding what it will be spent on: »
She is the typical Japanese housewife who controls the family's purse strings.
Main Entry: ↑purse
Financial and business terms. 2012.