wife

Related to wife: WFIE

a good husband makes a good wife

proverb If a husband treats his wife well, she will treat him well in return. I do the dishes because it gives Shannon much needed time to relax, and a good husband makes a good wife.
See also: good, husband, make, wife

apron strings

The extent to which someone controls, influences, or monitors someone else, especially parents in relation to their children. Mothers these days are so fussy about their kids, having to know where they are at every second of the day. They would really do well to loosen the apron strings a little, if you ask me! Sending kids to summer camps has been in decline in recent years, as parents have become less and less inclined to loosen the apron strings. Can he make a decision of his own, or is he going to stay tied to the president's apron strings?
See also: apron, string

Caesar's wife

One who must avoid attracting negative attention or scrutiny (because they are involved with a famous or prominent figure). Julius Caesar allegedly used the phrase "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion" to explain why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. I felt a bit like Caesar's wife after seeing how much scrutiny my every action gets because of my husband's newfound success.
See also: wife

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion

proverb If one is involved with a famous or prominent figure, one must avoid attracting negative attention or scrutiny. Julius Caesar allegedly used the phrase to explain why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. After my son's scandal derailed my presidential bid, I understood why Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
See also: above, must, suspicion, wife

How's the wife?

A greeting inquiring about the well-being of one's wife. Typically exchanged between men. Hey, great to see you again! And how's the wife? A: "Hi Murray, how's the wife?" B: "Oh, she's doing great—just got a promotion at work, in fact."

left-handed wife

obsolete A mistress. If you're just his left-handed wife, you do realize that you have no claim to his financial assets, yes?
See also: wife

man and wife

Two people who are married to each other. Another way of saying "husband and wife." How are you two doing, now that you're man and wife?
See also: and, man, wife

take a wife

To marry a woman. I can't believe my son is taking a wife on Saturday. Kids grow up so fast! Is there any hope of Sir Reginald taking a wife in the near future?
See also: take, wife

take to wife

To marry a woman. Is it true that Sir Reginald is taking Lady Jane to wife?
See also: take, wife

the devil is beating his wife

It is raining while the sun is shining. "The devil is meeting his wife" is also used. Look, the devil is beating his wife. Do you think we'll see a rainbow?
See also: beating, devil, wife

the devil is meeting his wife

It is raining while the sun is shining. "The devil is beating his wife" is also used. Look, the devil is meeting his wife. Do you think we'll see a rainbow?
See also: devil, meeting, wife

the world and his wife

A large number or a majority of people. The world and his wife are going to be at the wedding this July. I hope I can make it too.
See also: and, wife, world

wife up

1. slang To marry a woman; make a woman one's wife. How are things going with you and Sally? When are you going to wife her up already?
2. slang To marry a man; to become a man's wife. Often used in passive constructions. I'm tired of just being his girlfriend. I want to wife him up, already! Don't bother trying to get with Tucker, ladies. He's wifed up.
See also: up, wife

wife-beater

1. Literally, a person who physically assaults their wife. The world was shocked to learn that the hugely popular musician was a savage wife-beater.
2. slang By extension, a tank top typically worn under other clothes. Also known as a "boy-beater." You can't go out in just a wife-beater—put something else on over it. One of our neighbors sits out on his front porch all day during the summer wearing nothing but a dirty wife-beater and a pair of boxer briefs.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

Prov. The associates of public figures must not even be suspected of wrongdoing. (The ancient Roman Julius Caesar is supposed to have said this when asked why he divorced his wife, Pompeia. Because she was suspected of some wrongdoing, he could not associate with her anymore.) Jill: I don't think the mayor is trustworthy; his brother was charged with embezzlement. Jane: But the charges were never proved. Jill: That doesn't matter. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. When the newspapers reported the rumor that the lieutenant governor had failed to pay his taxes, the governor forced him to resign, saying, "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion."
See also: above, must, suspicion, wife

A good husband makes a good wife.

 and A good Jack makes a good Jill.
Prov. If a husband or man wants his wife or girlfriend to be respectful and loving to him, he should be respectful and loving to her. Don't blame your wife for being short-tempered with you; you've been so unpleasant to her lately. A good husband makes a good wife.
See also: good, husband, make, wife

How's the wife?

Inf. a phrase used by a man when inquiring about a male friend's wife. Tom: Hi, Fred, how are you? Fred: Good. And you? Tom: Great! How's the wife? Fred: Okay, and yours? Tom: Couldn't be better. Bill: Hi, Bob. How's the wife? Bob: Doing fine. How's every little thing? Bill: Great!
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

wife

see under wives.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

Caesar's wife

a person who is required to be above suspicion.
This expression comes ultimately from Plutarch 's account of Julius Caesar 's decision to divorce his wife Pompeia . The libertine Publius Clodius , who was in love with Pompeia, smuggled himself into the house in which the women of Caesar's household were celebrating a festival, thereby causing a scandal. Caesar refused to bring charges against Clodius, but divorced Pompeia; when questioned he replied ‘I thought my wife ought not even to be under suspicion’.
See also: wife

the world and his wife

everyone; a large number of people. British
This expression is first recorded in Jonathan Swift 's Polite Conversation ( 1738 ).
See also: and, wife, world
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(tied to) your mother’s, wife’s, etc. ˈapron strings

(too much under) the influence and control of somebody, especially your mother, wife, etc: The British prime minister is too apt to cling to Washington’s apron strings.
See also: apron, string

(all) the ˌworld and his ˈwife

(informal) everyone; a large number of people: The world and his wife was in Brighton that day.
See also: and, wife, world
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

wife

n. a girlfriend. (Collegiate.) Me and my wife are going to Fred’s this Friday.

wife-beater

n. a sleeveless undershirt. (see also boy-beater.) He always wears wife-beaters with no outer shirt.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

trophy wife

A young woman, usually a second wife, who is married for her extreme attractiveness and/or accomplishments, which her wealthy and powerful husband wants to show off as a winner might display a trophy. The term may have been coined earlier but became popular after it appeared in Fortune, where Julie Connelly wrote, “Powerful men are beginning to demand trophy wives” (Aug. 28, 1989). It is now a cliché.
See also: wife
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

Caesar's wife

A woman whose ethics should not be questioned. A Roman emperor's wife was deemed to be above reproach; if her morals were called in question, it was a serious problem to her husband's image and political and social power. The phrase came down over the centuries to be applied to any woman, married to a leader or not, whose behavior was—or should be—beyond criticism. (According to the historian Suetonius, what Julius Caesar actually said translates as “My wife should be as much free from suspicion of a crime as she is from a crime itself.”)
See also: wife
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • teach a man to fish
  • beget
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • for want of a nail
  • For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse ...
References in classic literature
"You are a woman of precaution, I see, my dear Madame Coquenard," said Porthos, squeezing the hand of the procurator's wife tenderly.
"Ah, you are quite the pet of the ladies, Monsieur Porthos!" resumed the procurator's wife, with a sigh.
Three Musketeers
Covering my face with both hands, I emitted a deep and deathlike groan, as if my tormented soul were rending me asunder--I, the most exquisitely fastidious of men, and whose wife was to have been the most delicate and refined of women, with all the fresh dew-drops glittering on her virgin rosebud of a heart!
Bullfrog," said she, not unkindly, yet with all the decision of her strong character, "let me advise you to overcome this foolish weakness, and prove yourself, to the best of your ability, as good a husband as I will be a wife. You have discovered, perhaps, some little imperfections in your bride.
Mosses From An Old Manse and other stories
" He kill his wife! He treat his wife with neglect and cruelty!
To say that such a wife as this could be first cruelly neglected, and then barbarously murdered, by the man--no!
Law and the Lady
He consented joyfully, but before they were married, the young girl changed my wife into a hind, and it is she whom you see before you.
I am now going in search of him, and not wishing to confide my wife to the care of other people, I am taking her with me.
Arabian Nights
"Well," said I, for I was afraid of irritating her, "if it must be so, demand an introduction." Assuming her most gracious manner, my Wife advanced towards the Stranger, "Permit me, Madam, to feel and be felt by " then, suddenly recoiling, "Oh!
"I am indeed, in a certain sense a Circle," replied the Voice, "and a more perfect Circle than any in Flatland; but to speak more accurately, I am many Circles in one." Then he added more mildly, "I have a message, dear Madam, to your husband, which I must not deliver in your presence; and, if you would suffer us to retire for a few minutes " But my Wife would not listen to the proposal that our august Visitor should so incommode himself, and assuring the Circle that the hour of her own retirement had long passed, with many reiterated apologies for her recent indiscretion, she at last retreated to her apartment.
Flatland
The next morning when Dame Ilsabill awoke it was broad daylight, and she jogged the fisherman with her elbow, and said, 'Get up, husband, and bestir yourself, for we must be king of all the land.' 'Wife, wife,' said the man, 'why should we wish to be the king?
Fairy Tales
Look at the circumstances as they struck two strangers like my wife and myself.
The Two Destinies
He did not succeed in adapting his face to the position in which he was placed towards his wife by the discovery of his fault.
Anna Karenina
Time dragged heavily till the time of the full moon, but it passed at last, and as soon as it rose the young wife went to the pond, combed her black hair with a golden comb, and when she had finished, placed the comb on the bank; then she watched the water impatiently.
Yellow Fairy Book
N.B.--This dialogue between Will Atkins and his wife, which I took down in writing just after he told it me, was as follows:-
Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe