Slang for "wife"
Steve Barnard
Zhao Jiankang wrote:
>
> In Chinese, we have tons of slangs for the word "wife". Formally, we say
> 'qizi', 'airen', more casually, esp. among young people, we say 'laopo',
> in Chongqing dialect, many people say 'tangke', in my hometown
> pengshui county, people also say 'youke' and 'xxx wude'. I am wondering
> if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
The ball and chain. (it's a reference of a heavy metal ball attached to
a prisoner's ankle with a chain to prevent him from escaping.)
Steve Barnard
Charles A. Lee
On 1 Mar 1998 02:48:04 GMT, zha...@prairienet.org (Zhao Jiankang)
wrote:
>. . . I am wondering
>if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
"The Old Ball and Chain" comes to mind.
Cheers.
Charles A. Lee
http://www.concentric.net/~azcal
================================
= "Nobody goes there anymore; =
= it's too crowded. =
= - Yogi Berra =
================================
Cheryl L Perkins
Zhao Jiankang (zha...@prairienet.org) wrote:
: In Chinese, we have tons of slangs for the word "wife". Formally, we say
: 'qizi', 'airen', more casually, esp. among young people, we say 'laopo',
: in Chongqing dialect, many people say 'tangke', in my hometown
: ---
: Zhao Jiankang <a href="http://www.pku.edu.cn">Peking University</a>
: http://www.geocities.com/bourbonstreet/delta/2400/index.html
Well, I don't know Chinese, although I do know that the English term
'Chinese' may refer to any of a great number of dialects.
There are many slang terms for 'wife' in English, most of which are in
many dictionaries. 'Better half' springs to mind, as does simply 'woman',
which my father used to tease my mother. Saying to a wife 'Woman! Get me
some dinner!' is common in some circles, and in others, reason for a
fight.
Cheryl
--
Cheryl Perkins
cper...@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca
Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
In article <6dakkq$f4q$1...@coranto.ucs.mun.ca>, cper...@stemnet.nf.ca
(Cheryl L Perkins) writes:
'Better half' springs to mind, as does simply 'woman', ...
Also "the little woman".
[My] Old lady.
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
GT
A few British contributions : "the/my Mrs." ; "her indoors" ; "the old
trout" (I think).
Zhao Jiankang wrote in message <6dai94$kli$2...@vixen.cso.uiuc.edu>...
Albert Marshall
Zhao Jiankang <zha...@prairienet.org> wrote
>In Chinese, we have tons of slangs for the word "wife". Formally, we say
>'qizi', 'airen', more casually, esp. among young people, we say 'laopo',
>in Chongqing dialect, many people say 'tangke', in my hometown
>pengshui county, people also say 'youke' and 'xxx wude'. I am wondering
>if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
>
her indoors
the old woman
the old lady
my old dutch
my old dear
the missus
she who must be obeyed
--
Albert Marshall
Executive French
Language Training for Businesses in Kent
01634 400902
Peter Buchwald
>I am wondering
>: if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
Some I have come across:
her indoors
the old dog
dog-breath
better half
trouble and strife (rhyming slang)
the old woman
Not all of these are complimentary.
PAB
Peter Buchwald
P&DSchultz
Albert Marshall wrote:
>
> Zhao Jiankang <zha...@prairienet.org> wrote
> >... I am wondering
> >if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
> >
> her indoors
> the old woman
> the old lady
> my old dutch
> my old dear
> the missus
> she who must be obeyed
"The war department," or "the ol' war department." And a co-worker
of mine always refers to his wife and children collectively as
"the slaves."
//P. Schultz
Mike Barnes
In alt.usage.english, Zhao Jiankang <zha...@prairienet.org> spake
thuswise:
>In Chinese, we have tons of slangs for the word "wife". Formally, we say
>'qizi', 'airen', more casually, esp. among young people, we say 'laopo',
>in Chongqing dialect, many people say 'tangke', in my hometown
'er indoors
the missus
the trouble (rhyming slang: "trouble and strife")
the ball and chain
she who must be obeyed
SHMBO [sic] (in at least one newsgroup)
my better half
--
-- Mike Barnes, Stockport, England.
-- If you post a response to Usenet, please *don't* send me a copy by e-mail.
Simon R. Hughes
On Sun, 01 Mar 1998 12:05:31 -0500, P&DSchultz <schu...@erols.com>
wrote:
> Albert Marshall wrote:
> >
> > Zhao Jiankang <zha...@prairienet.org> wrote
> > >... I am wondering
> > >if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
> > >
> > the trouble & strife
> > her indoors
> > the old woman
> > the old lady
> > my old dutch
> > my old dear
> > the missus
> > she who must be obeyed
>
> "The war department," or "the ol' war department." And a co-worker
> of mine always refers to his wife and children collectively as
> "the slaves."
I once heard a man refer to his kids as "the powers and
principalities".
Simon R. Hughes
mailto:shu...@geocities.com
(Mail not sent directly to the above address will be deleted without being read.)
Sean Holland
Peter Buchwald <buch...@dircon.co.uk> wrote:
> her indoors
> the old dog
> dog-breath
> better half
> trouble and strife (rhyming slang)
> the old woman
>
Add to this list:
ball and chain
boss
BTW, the Japanese sometimes say "uchi no hito" (the person at my
house). I sometimes use the English version in conversation and people
get what I mean.
--
Sean
To e-mail me, take out the garbage.
Steve Barnard
Douglas P. McNutt wrote:
>
> I was always amused by one friend, married only once, who introduced the lady...
>
> "I want you to meet my first wife."
My cousin used to do this. One time I watched him attempt to introduce
his wife to someone and he actually couldn't think of her name! I know,
that sounds incredible, but he was a really weird guy.
Steve Barnard
Douglas P. McNutt
I was always amused by one friend, married only once, who introduced the lady...
"I want you to meet my first wife."
-> From the USA. The only socialist country that refuses to admit it. <-
Ross Howard
On Sun, 1 Mar 1998 13:26:12 -0700, seho...@garbageislandnet.com (Sean
Holland) wrote:
> BTW, the Japanese sometimes say "uchi no hito" (the person at my
>house).
Odd that "Minder" should have been so popular in Japan.
Ross Howard
****************************************************
There's a number in my e-mail address. Subtract four
from it to reply.
****************************************************
pet...@ms.com
In article <34f8f94f....@news.concentric.net>,
az...@concentric.net (Charles A. Lee) wrote:
>
> On 1 Mar 1998 02:48:04 GMT, zha...@prairienet.org (Zhao Jiankang)
> wrote:
>
> >if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
>
>
> Cheers.
>
She Who Must Be Obeyed (SWMBO) from the novel by H. Rider Haggard,
She. (Not Rumplole of the Bailey).
Pjk
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
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Perchprism
>> On 1 Mar 1998 02:48:04 GMT, zha...@prairienet.org (Zhao Jiankang)
>> wrote:
>>
>> >. . . I am wondering
>> >if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
The old millstone (for "millstone around my neck").
GBL
"Quotation is the opiate of the intelligentsia."
John Seal
> >> On 1 Mar 1998 02:48:04 GMT, zha...@prairienet.org (Zhao Jiankang)
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >. . . I am wondering
> >> >if there are as many slangs for 'wife' in English. It's interesting.
I recently saw a list of Navy humor which said that "Real Chiefs refer to
their wife as CINC House"
--
John Seal <mailto:john...@indy.net>
StrayShots
The word for "handcuffs" in Spanish is "esposas"; the same word is also the
plural of "wife".
spam-bait follows:
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Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
I note that there have been quite a few more items contributed from British
participants than from American. Does this indicate that British English is
more colorful in general than American, or is it so merely in this one
instance, we American men being inhibited by a fear of the consequences should
our wives overhear?
Gary Williams
WILL...@AHECAS.AHEC.EDU
Mike Barnes
In alt.usage.english, Gary Williams, Business Services Accounting
<will...@ahecas.AHEC.EDU> spake thuswise:
>I note that there have been quite a few more items contributed from British
>participants than from American. Does this indicate that British English is
>more colorful in general than American, or is it so merely in this one
>instance, we American men being inhibited by a fear of the consequences should
>our wives overhear?
I would guess it's a consequence of your not having what has been
described as a "pub culture". The traditional public bar is where men
can indulge in the pastime of referring to their womenfolk however they
like without fear. In some bars a simple "my wife" would be regarded as
indecently affectionate.
Public bars aren't what they used to be, though.
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca
On 4 Mar 1998 13:04:01 GMT, will...@ahecas.AHEC.EDU (Gary Williams,
Business Services Accounting) wrote:
>I note that there have been quite a few more items contributed from British
>participants than from American. Does this indicate that British English is
>more colorful in general than American, or is it so merely in this one
>instance, we American men being inhibited by a fear of the consequences should
>our wives overhear?
>
I thought we might be just about done with this sexist/racist stuff?
Anyway, you some sort of Amendment which guarantees free speech or
something, so it can't be that, can it?
As for colourful . . .!
Markus Laker
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca wrote:
> On 4 Mar 1998 13:04:01 GMT, will...@ahecas.AHEC.EDU (Gary Williams,
> Business Services Accounting) wrote:
>
> >I note that there have been quite a few more items contributed from British
> >participants than from American. Does this indicate that British English is
> >more colorful in general than American, or is it so merely in this one
> >instance, we American men being inhibited by a fear of the consequences should
> >our wives overhear?
> >
> I thought we might be just about done with this sexist/racist stuff?
I don't see how speculation about cultural differences is racist.
I don't see how discussing the consequences of offending one's spouse is
sexist.
Criticising or maltreating someone because of his race is racism. Doing
the same because of a person's sex is sexism. But acknowledging that
differences exist -- differences that are as plain as day to anyone
without an axe to grind -- is a good first step to better relations
between the races and the sexes.
Markus
--
a.u.e resources: http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~laker/aue/
My real email address doesn't include a Christian name.
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca
On 4 Mar 1998 13:04:01 GMT, will...@ahecas.AHEC.EDU (Gary Williams,
Business Services Accounting) wrote:
>I note that there have been quite a few more items contributed from British
>participants than from American. Does this indicate that British English is
>more colorful in general than American, or is it so merely in this one
>instance, we American men being inhibited by a fear of the consequences should
>our wives overhear?
>
I thought we might be just about done with this sexist/racist stuff?
Anyway, you have some sort of Amendment which guarantees free speech
a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca
On Fri, 06 Mar 1998 23:39:17 GMT, fredd...@tcp.co.uk (Markus Laker)
wrote:
>a1a5...@bc.sympatico.ca wrote:
>> I thought we might be just about done with this sexist/racist stuff?
>
>I don't see how speculation about cultural differences is racist.
>I don't see how discussing the consequences of offending one's spouse is
>sexist.
>
>Criticising or maltreating someone because of his race is racism. Doing
>the same because of a person's sex is sexism. But acknowledging that
>differences exist -- differences that are as plain as day to anyone
>without an axe to grind -- is a good first step to better relations
>between the races and the sexes.
>
Creative editing seems to be a popular pastime here. The Freddy Laker
who decorated British airspace knew that cheeks sometimes had tongues
in them. Or perhaps, "plain as a pikestaff and with no axe to grind",
your message is less priggish than the casual reader might surmise. I
hope that is so, although the humour is too subtle for me.
I have posted my first wire again since you may have lost some of it.