sans bourse délier
French
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally, “without opening one's purse”. For the obsolete word order, compare sans coup férir, sans mot dire, à pierre fendre.
Pronunciation
[edit]Adverb
[edit]- (literary) without spending a penny, without spending a dime
- 1845, Alexandre Dumas, Vingt ans après[1], page 174:
- N’est-ce que cela ? dit Mazarin, dont les yeux pétillèrent de joie en voyant qu’il pouvait récompenser le dévoûment de Porthos sans bourse délier ; n’est-ce que cela ? La chose pourra s’arranger.
- "Only that?" said Mazarin, his eyes twinkling with joy on seeing that he could reward Porthos's devotion without opening his purse; "only that? That can be managed."