old lady

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • One's wife: An informal, often affectionate, term for a man's wife or long-term female partner. The term is dated and can be considered colloquial or slang.
Usage Notes
  • The term "old lady" is informal and its acceptability depends heavily on context and tone. It can be used affectionately within a couple but may be perceived as disrespectful or outdated by others.
  • It is primarily used in casual speech.
  • This term is specific; it refers to wife/partner, not to any elderly woman.
Examples
  • Noun:
    • I'll have to check with my old lady before I can commit to the trip.
    • He said, "Meet my old lady," introducing his wife to the group.
Advanced Usage
  • The term can sometimes be extended to refer to a man's mother in certain slang contexts (e.g., "I'm visiting my old lady this weekend"), but its primary meaning is "wife."
  • It is often contrasted with the male equivalent "old man."
Variants and Related Words
  • Old man (n): The corresponding informal term for one's husband or long-term male partner.
    • My old man is fixing the car.
Synonyms
  • Wife: The standard, neutral term.
  • Better half: An affectionate, informal synonym.
  • Missus (or Mrs.): A casual term for one's wife (e.g., "the missus").
Antonyms
  • Old man: When referring to a husband.
  • Husband: The standard term for a male spouse.
Related Idioms/Phrases
  • The little woman: Another dated, informal term for one's wife, now often considered patronizing.
  • Ball and chain: A slang term for one's wife, implying she is a restrictive burden. This is almost always used jokingly among close friends but can be highly offensive.
Noun
  1. your own wife
    • meet my old lady