a better half?

[sky753]

Hello Everyone,

What does the " a better half" mean in the following sentence, which is taken form the Rocket fan forum? Does it mean my wife or my husband?

"I'm on vacation right now so I don't have a lot of time; otherwise the better half will killl me!"

Regards

SKY

[David L.]

It is an expression used by a male, so refers to his wife...

...though in this day and age, it could refer to the marriage partner of a gay male also.

[sky753]

It is an expression used by a male, so refers to his wife...

...though in this day and age, it could refer to the marriage partner of a gay male also.

Thanks, I guess we can say" my half"?

[peterteacher]

You can't say just "my half" even if you are a woman married to a man

You can say "my other half" as an alternative to "my better half" if you want though.

[Snowcake]

In times of emancipation isn't this expression becoming increasingly widespread among women (wifes) too?

There is the same expression in German, and women use it as often as men do. Although I'm quite sure that once this expression actually was only used by males refering to their wifes.

[David L.]

Think what the expression implies: 'better'.

Where would this stand with Feminism and Women's Liberation for a woman to use this expression?

[daemon99]

Where would this stand with Feminism and Women's Liberation for a woman to use this expression?

I think they'd go for 'my worse half'

[peterteacher]

In Australia women sometimes use "my better half" but men use it more. We know our place

[sky753]

In Australia women sometimes use "my better half" but men use it more. We know our place

Thanks!

And I would like to know here if this expression originate from the bible as in my memory the bible says GOD takes a bone from Adam and makes the first woman in the world?

Regards

[Pedroski]

Hey Snowcake! Was ist die Mehrzahl von wife?

I wouldn't expect to hear this expression from a woman referring to a man. Can't remember ever hearing a woman say it, although I don't think English Law proscribes its use by females!