sans bourse délier

French

FWOTD – 17 June 2020

Etymology

Literally, “without opening one's purse”. For the obsolete word order, compare sans coup férir, sans mot dire, à pierre fendre.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɑ̃ buʁ.s(ə) de.lje/

Adverb

sans bourse délier

1. (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."