I absolutely despise "the wife."

[Maus_Magill]

@mswas

Keeper of the Uterus.

The Maker of the Milk.

[Atrael]

@Missy2U

Oh trust me, I’ve been here since 1999 - this is really really up there in terms of dumb.

Oh come on…I know I’ve seen worse than this.

To the OP. I call her by her name when I’m specifically talking to her, or about her with close friends or family. However if I’m just telling a random story to a group of co-workers I’ll tend to refer to her as “my wife”. Mostly because I think it’s rude to assume that they’ll automatically remember the name of my spouse. After all, I don’t bother to remember the names of their spouses/kids ect.

[singular1]

huh…term of endearment for us. I refer to Mr. singular as “the boy” quite frequently. I also call him Pony Boy, my Little Painted Pony (because of the rampant vitiligo) and his last name. That one started when he began to call me at work and I always answered with my last name, “This is XXXX” (since my first name is usually a man’s name and I got tired of saying that I was, indeed, the person they were looking for, and yes, I am a woman), causing him to answer “Hello, XXXX. This is ####”.

How the hell can you possibly be pissed off about something as totally subjective as what one half of a couple calls the other? What’s the point, other than to get a shitstorm rained down on yourself?

The fucknut.

[sugar_and_spice]

@Daithi Lacha

Aw, shit – I thought it was “speeses!”

I think you mean “speese”, actually. FYI.

[Yeticus_Rex]

Teh Whiff, it burns.

That is all.

[phungi]

I like to refer to phungal as “my first wife”…

[Dangerosa]

I’ve told the story of my proposal before…

It was a romantic dinner of cheap frozen pizza (not even the good kind). Brainiac4 looks at me from across the table and says, “We should get married.”

“Why”

“Because I’m tired of referring to you as 'the shameless hussy I shack up with. ’ Wife is so much shorter.”

So I’m proud to be “The Wife” brings a sentimental glow - although “Shameless Hussy” does have a certain ring to it.

[Pushkin]

I’ve heard Dad using “the good wife” once, does that make his despicable or a gentleman?

[Maus_Magill]

@Pushkin

I’ve heard Dad using “the good wife” once, does that make his despicable or a gentleman?

It sounds like he may have had a Fucking-hellspawn-wench-who’s-ruined-my-fucking-godforsaken-life-and-makes-me-pray-for-some-kind-
stranger-to-break-into-my-house-and-drag-me-out-into-the-front-yard-and-out-of-the-goodness-of-his/hers/its-cold-black-heart-set-me-on-
fire-and-as-I’m-writhing-there-in-flames-calling-out-to-my-god-shoot-me-twelve-or-thirteen-times-and-send-me-to-hell-with-a-smile-on-my-
face.

[Terrifel]

@Pushkin

I’ve heard Dad using “the good wife” once, does that make his despicable or a gentleman?

I think it makes him a Pilgrim, actually.

[Sternvogel]

@EddyTeddyFreddy

Whatever the heck it was I dimly recall reading alleged that “the wife” was a lower/working class idiom and that the upper crust used “my wife”.

Imagine how different the Green Acres theme would have been with Mr. Douglas singing to Lisa: “You are the wife…” Maybe Mrs. Douglas would still have responded “Goodbye city life”, but I’d bet she’d have just said “Goodbye Olivah!” instead.

[essell]

@sunacres

I believe the correct working class term in Britain is “trouble and strife.”

By order of the British empire, and with authority of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, you are banned from watching any more British films. Especially Mary Poppins as you are a fool.

If I’ve ever used the phrase ‘The Wife’ It’s with the irony meter set to maximum.

As in, “I’m gonna pretend I can get away with this disrespect to save face but you all know I can’t.” and then all concerned are smiling.

[CanvasShoes]

@VCO3

But this is too far - it’s a direct refusal to even acknowledge your significant other with the title and sense of pride that should be reserved only for someone to which you’ve pledged your life. My wife. Mine. “The reason I get up in the morning.”

I sure don’t think that it’s as bad as all that, but yeah, I’ve heard it used in a slightly …what’s the word?.. blase’?

It does have a similar feel to someone saying their “old lady”. And to me, evokes a feeling that this person is either somewhat annoyed at the restrictions of marriage, or at their wife.

Such as “yeah, I would come bowling, but ‘the wife’ ya know?”. I find it somewhat annoying because upon hearing it, I think “well jeez, if a wife crimps your style THAT much, why did you go and get one”?

[Siam_Sam]

@Sunspace

And remember! The plural of ‘spouse’ is ‘spice’!

Don’t laugh. They could use a plural form over here.

[tomndebb]

I really don’t think it appropriate for you to bring your marital troubles to us.

[tomndebb]

@Little Nemo

I suppose it’s all in how you look at it. If you view calling her “the wife” as a way of distancing her then it’s bad. If you view it as a way of elevating her - as analogous to refering to “the President” or “the Queen” - then it’s good. And if you call her “my wife” to show intimacy, it’s good. If you do it to show a sense of ownership, it’s bad.

You are giving the OP and this thread FAR more serious consideration than it deserves.

[Heffalump_and_Roo]

And here were some of the ads at the bottom of the page:

Meet Cheating Wives now
lonelydesperatemilfs.com

Ex Wife
on e-bay
(I didn’t know they sold those)

Could He Be a Liar?

DontDateHimGirl.com - Date Safer and Smarter

**
Find a Cheating Wife**
SinglesNet.com
(people want those?)
So I’m with the OP, you shouldn’t call the wife “the wife” because look at what ads appear!

[TokyoBayer]

@VCO3

But this is too far - it’s a direct refusal to even acknowledge your significant other with the title and sense of pride that should be reserved only for someone to which you’ve pledged your life. My wife. Mine.

Hey, if it will make you feel any better, please note that I have pledged my life to your wife.

But please don’t tell The Wife, she gets insanely jealous.

[Malacandra]

@CanvasShoes

I sure don’t think that it’s as bad as all that, but yeah, I’ve heard it used in a slightly …what’s the word?.. blase’?

It does have a similar feel to someone saying their “old lady”. And to me, evokes a feeling that this person is either somewhat annoyed at the restrictions of marriage, or at their wife.

Such as “yeah, I would come bowling, but ‘the wife’ ya know?”. I find it somewhat annoying because upon hearing it, I think “well jeez, if a wife crimps your style THAT much, why did you go and get one”?

The answer may well entail the following two words: “Bait”, “Switch”.

@Daithi Lacha

Aw, shit – I thought it was “speeses!”

Does anyone know the origin of this word?

[dynamitedave]

Personally, I’m waiting for an opportunity to try the term “Bedwarmer” Me thinks I’d only get the one use of that term :smack: