To be annoyed by hearing my DH saycomplishment today is making you laugh - to his work colleague

I wouldn’t say this though. That’s not colleague level.

I might say this, most probably to a man since 90% of my colleagues in my career have been men. I wouldn’t say it to my boss as too high risk of sounding sucky up, I wouldn’t say it flirtily as I’m careful about that, just as a friendly colleague. But I’m sure it could be said in a very different tone from how I would and the op can tell if that’s what’s going on.

Definitely sounds like emotional affair to me. Sorry @Yuai

Well it's all about context. I wouldn't think twice about joking 'well at least I put a smile on your face today, if I achieved nothing else' or similar to a colleague, male or female, if I'd made them laugh.

Only you know if there's more to it than just friendly chat OP. The comment itself is nothing.

Not a straight one anyway!

Yes it's so unhelpful when the sweeping generalisations and cool wives chime in like this.
So. Unhelpful.

Could be something, could be nothing. I'm chummy with work friends (male and female) and can imagine saying something like that.
However, maybe it's flirtatious. Hard to tell.

A man wouldn't say that to another man

If I were her, I'd roll my eyes. It sounds a bit pathetic to me. Are you sure his comments are welcomed by her?

I agree that he is in emotional affair territory.
It's interesting you say he was very moody before he became friends with her. So instead of turning to you to help with whatever was troubling him , whatever wasn't right in his life, he has turned to her. He is getting something from his relationship with her that you would expect in a marriage to be provided by you, his wife.

You really need to talk to him about boundaries.

No one is saying you can't be friends with anyone at work. What we're discussing is whether this particular friendship might be of concern. So, rather than sneer at people offering their views on that, why not put us straight? Because I'm sure you wouldn't deny that sometimes these friendships do turn into affairs (it's reasonably well known that they sometimes do) so, how do we tell when that's going to happen and when its going to remain just a friendship? If you could just tell the OP that, she'll know whether to worry or not.

In isolation, no, it's really nothing. It sounds like someone having a tough time and a colleague cheering them up.

But that's probably because I like my colleagues and have a laugh with them. Gender regardless.

Taken with other things you've said, perhaps there is concern...

It's MN
Men are only ever flirting and you should never be friends with anyone at work or even be slightly friendly...

Nah, this is emotional affair. How many women really think its appropriate for their husbands to tell other women that making them laugh and smile is their achievement for the day? Some people are so oblivious a plank to the face wouldn't register. Can count on no hands the instances my achievement for the day has been to make a male colleague laugh/smile, and about the same amount of times I've told them as such.

Sorry OP, its not good.

Listen to your gout on this one

Context is everything. If it was my DP I overheard I wouldn’t be worried because I could and have heard him say similar to male colleagues as well. There’s camaraderie in his job the team are friends and friendly, he works with a number of women and he mention everyone, male and female, equally.

But in your context that it sounds out of place to you, he’s been a grump but suddenly is all smiles when speaking to her and has a case of mentionitis, yeah it would certainly make me a b it suspicious I’m afraid.

A bit David Brent for my liking!!

Eww that gave me the ick. It's a hard NO from me.

He clearly likes her. As a woman, not as a colleague.

Yes well if he isn't usually like this with other colleagues and isn't having the same "banter" with John from Finance, then yes chances are that this is heading towards that...

This!

It's the beginning of an emotional affair (at least). Anyone who can't see that is delusional...

This is MN, where every friendly work interaction is an “emotional affair”, where predatory women are waiting in every stationary cupboard to pounce….. yet at the same time, on another thread a women who’s partner doesn’t like her talking / laughing with a single dad on the school run, is being told she’s doing nothing wrong.

Heaven forbid someone should actual mention a work colleague .. or then again it’s suspicious when they don’t, as why would they keep it secret - another MN bit of nonsense

I’ve said similar to male colleagues (and female ones), normally when they are having a tough time at work.. “see, made you smile, it can’t be that bad”

At the end of the day, you trust them, or you don’t.

I have a few close colleagues at work that would say stuff like this to all the time. Some female and one male. It’s not flurting it’s getting through some shit times in the office. We often send memes to each other on what’s app too whilst in meetings because it’s funny and you just know the other person will get it.