petticoat

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Is ''He lives under his wife's petticoat government'' coorect?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Possibly, but I don't know what it means.

 

[MikeNewYork]

A Google search led to a link that said it means government by women.

 

[Eckaslike]

We don't say that in British English. We might say "His wife wears the trousers in his house".

Yes, or the similar phrase "She definitely wears the trousers in that relationship!".

 

[Rover_KE]

In what context did you encounter this sentence, Untaught?

 

[Untaught88]

In this context ''He (husband) is ruled by his wife''. I know some other phrases like ''under somebody's thumb'', ''henpecked'' etc. I want to learn whether I have used it correctly.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I don't think "petticoat government" is very common.

 

[Rover_KE]

Untaught, please tell us the source of any future sentences you ask about.

Please note that sb is only acceptable as a space-saver in dictionaries.

 

[Eckaslike]

I don't think "petticoat government" is very common.

I'd never seen it before, until this question was asked, and I've still yet to hear anyone say it.

 

[emsr2d2]

I had heard it before, many years ago I think, but had completely forgotten about it until I saw this thread.