The Wife ...

[andy-hughes]

I am surprised that anyone under the age of sixty would still refer to their wife as 'The Wife'.

It has always jarred with me, every time I hear or read it.

I may be over-thinking this, but I never ever have, and never ever will, refer to my wife as 'The Wife' because I think it's demeaning and boorish.

I notice that I cannot recall reading or hearing any married woman referring to her husband as 'The Husband' - maybe that have more respect for their partner.

Or better manners.

Any thoughts?

[douglas9401]

Maybe you need a library card or to join a club.

[237SJ]

I think it's quite funny.  Ever heard a woman refer to her husband as "My old man"?

[Old_Geezer]

My thoughts is some need to not get uptight about nothing.

 

But I  suppose we all have triggers we find difficulty getting rid of.

[nicebloke1]

If posting on social media then I cant really see what else you could call them. Names are out, OH can mean either, her indoors is rude, partner can mean either. So.....?

[Old_Geezer]

Anyway, it's more accurate to refer to "'er indoors".

[nicebloke1]

The *** (dog) or wife. OG

[237SJ]

^😁

[Cloverjo]

Andy, it jars with me when a man refers to his wife as 'the present Mrs [his surname].

Terry Wogan did it a lot, and someone on AB does too. Now, who is that? 🤔

[nicebloke1]

Ok the girl dog. :0)

[douglas9401]

'The lodger'. (c) Micky Flannigan. 😊

[andy-hughes]

Nicebloke - // ... I can't see what else you could call them ... //

What's wrong with 'My wife'?

[Cloverjo]

I refer to my husband as 'Husband' on here. Not 'the husband', though. 
 

Husband calls me Wifey or Wifeling, jokingly I think,

[Cloverjo]

Yes, Andy, what is wrong with 'my wife' instead of 'the present Mrs Hughes'?

[andres]

 I prefer' My Wife' to 'The Wife'.

[Maydup]

Clover Jo 👏

Almost anything is preferable to The Present Mrs H, even The Wife or Her Indoors!

Locally people say My Woman or My Man. Don't like that either. 
 

[andy-hughes]

Cloverjo - nothing, which is why I refer to my wife as 'my wife' about forty times, for every time I call her 'The present Mrs Hughes'.

And I occasionally call her that in company, only ever close friends or family, as I'm sure you and your husband do with your affectionate names.

There's nothing affectionate about referring to your loved one in the same way you refer to the car, or the dog.

[Cloverjo]

Ok, Andy, if you want to flog that dead horse of a joke 

[andres]

All my four sons ,three over 60, refer to their wives by their Christian Names. 

[andy-hughes]

Apparently I do, I'm not aware it is a major character flaw.

The fact that I haven't done it for some time,  and I can only recall - correct me if I'm wrong - you mentioning it once before, and no-one else ever has, it's clearly not that big a deal in the first place. 

[Barmaid]

I think you are over-thinking this. 

It is really up to the individual couples how they refer to each  other.  If my husband is taking the mickey he will refer to me by many names but often "the wife" or "my little nest of vipers".  I couldn't care less. Equally, I will refer to him as "himself" or the "grumpy *** to whom I am married" or "the husband".  Between us and privately we may call each other much worse.  It's up to us.  We are happy with that. 

If people outside of our relationship want to judge and decide us boorish and disrespectful, they can go ahead.  We're happy.