idioms

  icing on the cake (something that makes a good situation even better) The service was excellent, and the view from my bedroom window was the icing on the cake. I had a great day there, but meeting my old friend was just the icing on the cake! envocabulary.com

  tighten the purse strings (to be stricter about spending money) The government will have to tighten the purse strings for another year. The economy is in a mess, and everyone tightened the purse strings. envocabulary.com

    loosen the purse strings (to be less strict about spending money) You shouldn’t expect me to loosen the purse strings on everything. If you want to live in luxury, you have to loosen the purse strings. envocabulary.com

  hold the purse strings (to be in charge of spending) It’s the general manager who holds purse strings in this company. Do you hold the purse strings in your family? I’m not the one who controls the purse strings around here. also, control the purse strings.   envocabulary.com

  quick off the mark (fast to act or react to a situation) The firefighters were quick off the mark, extinguishing the flames. You have to be quick off the mark if you want to get promoted here. envocabulary.com