purse
B1General, everyday; 'prize money' sense is formal/sporting.
Definition
Meaning
A small bag used by women for carrying money, keys, cards, and other small personal items.
1) A small, closable bag for carrying money (especially in historical contexts or for men). 2) A sum of money offered as a prize in a competition. 3) Financial resources; funds.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary meaning is a women's accessory. The 'prize money' sense is common in horse racing, boxing, and golf. The 'financial resources' sense is often used in fixed phrases (e.g., 'public purse').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'purse' is a small pouch for coins. A woman's bag is more commonly a 'handbag' or 'bag'. In US English, 'purse' is the standard term for a woman's handbag.
Connotations
UK: small coin container, can be gender-neutral (e.g., a man's leather purse). US: strongly associated with women's accessories.
Frequency
'Purse' is extremely frequent in the US for the handbag sense. In the UK, 'purse' is frequent for the coin container, but less so for a handbag.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
purse [something] (verb: lips)hold the purse strings (idiom)win/collect the purse (prize)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hold the purse strings (control the money)”
- “purse one's lips (pucker lips in disapproval)”
- “the public purse (government funds)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The project was cancelled as the company tightened its purse strings."
Academic
"Medieval records often mention a 'common purse' used for guild expenses."
Everyday
"I think I left my purse on the kitchen counter."
Technical
"The race boasts a winner's purse of two million dollars."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She pursed her lips in thought.
- He pursed his mouth, unimpressed by the offer.
American English
- The toddler pursed her lips to blow the dandelion.
- He pursed his lips into a thin, disapproving line.
adverb
British English
- None standard.
American English
- None standard.
adjective
British English
- None common for direct modification. 'Purse-sized' is occasionally used.
- A purse-sized mirror is handy.
American English
- None common for direct modification. 'Purse-friendly' (affordable) is informal.
- She bought a purse-friendly lipstick.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister has a red purse.
- I keep my money in my purse.
- She bought a new purse yesterday.
- I couldn't find my keys, but they were at the bottom of my purse.
- The charity event raised a large purse for the hospital.
- Be careful with your purse in a crowded market.
- The government's decision reflects a tightening of the public purse.
- He won the tournament and took home the largest purse of his career.
- She rummaged frantically through her purse for the missing ticket.
- The Chancellor's autumn statement will outline how the national purse will be allocated.
- Pursing her lips sceptically, she questioned the validity of his claims.
- The film's budget was modest, forcing the director to be creative with a limited purse.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a NURSE carrying a PURSE – both are common professions/items often associated together.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR RESOURCES (e.g., 'public purse', 'tighten the purse strings' = restrict spending).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'purse' (сумка, кошелёк) as 'bag' in American English – in the US, 'purse' is the common term.
- Do not confuse 'purse' (women's handbag) with 'wallet' (кошелёк/бумажник for men).
- In British English, 'purse' often means 'кошелёк', not 'сумка'.
Common Mistakes
- *He took his wallet and purse from the table. (Redundant if referring to the same item)
- *She opened her purse to pay for the coffee. (Correct in US, but in UK might imply a small coin pouch, not a handbag)
- Confusing 'purse' (bag) and 'wallet' (flat holder for cards/notes).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, what is the most likely meaning of 'I've lost my purse'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern UK English, a man might have a 'purse' for coins, but it's small and often called a 'wallet' or 'coin purse'. In the US, 'purse' is almost exclusively for women's handbags; men carry 'wallets' or 'bags'.
US: 'Purse' = 'handbag'. UK: 'Purse' = small coin holder; 'handbag'/'bag' = larger women's bag. Both: 'Wallet' is a flat, folding case for banknotes and cards, typically carried by men in a pocket or bag.
It's a metaphor for control over spending. The person who 'holds the purse strings' controls the money (e.g., in a household, company, or government).
Yes. To 'purse' your lips means to press them together tightly into a small, rounded shape, often showing disapproval, thought, or to apply lipstick.
Collections
Part of a collection
Shopping
A2 · 50 words · Vocabulary for buying and selling goods.