Many believe the work should be financed by the 'public purse'. [=should be paid for by the government]
Companies are expected to 'loosen the purse strings' as the economy improves.
School administrators are already 'tightening (the) purse strings'.
(..) Who brought this guy along? Yes, Alan. We're ready to let the dogs out. Hey, congrats./ Thank you. You're not really wearing that, are you?/ Wearing what?/ The man purse. You're actually gonna wear that or you guys just fuckin' with me? This is where I keep all my things. I get a lot of compliments on this. Plus it's not a man purse. It's called a satchel. Indiana Jones wears one. So does Joy Behar. We're going up, guys./ Yeah, that's perfect. Really? (..)2009 The Hangover