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AIBU?

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Original poster

Her indoors...

52 replies

lollylaughs · 15/02/2014 08:31

I heard this term for a wife for the first time yesterday. Maybe I have been living under a rock, I am not in UK so maybe this term is widely used, but I just have never heard it.

AIBU to think that this is one of the most derogatory term I have ever heard!

OP posts:
LEMmingaround · 15/02/2014 11:01

When i hear this it always reminds me of Minder Grin but i think you have to pronounce it "'er indoors" its not something ive heard since the 80's tbh

caruthers · 15/02/2014 11:04

I'm "The Old Man" and my Wife is "'Er Indoors",it works for us and we get on just fine.

How do you get worked up about things like this Confused

VelmaD · 15/02/2014 11:06

Alisvola the hubby and wifey when they aren't married annoys me too. No idea why!

I hate the term "other half". Like you are half a person without them.

DebbieOfMaddox · 15/02/2014 11:09

If that is one of the most derogatory terms you have ever heard, then you probably have been living under a rock. As others have said, generally used by those over 40(ish) as a tongue-in-cheek/affectionate reference to Minder.

It would be perfectly possible to use it in a non-tongue-in-cheek way and/or in all seriousness, but then it's possible to use almost any phrase unpleasantly.

mumblechum1 · 15/02/2014 13:27

DH refers to me as Mission Control Grin.

WorraLiberty · 15/02/2014 13:38

mumble, I love that! Grin

ChrisMooseAlbanians · 15/02/2014 13:41

Dp has said it in jest. It makes me laugh!

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 15/02/2014 14:00

I need to encourage 'mission control' as my new name. I like it a lot. Guess if you have to hint at it, it's not really a nn is it?

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 15/02/2014 14:21

I would assume they're quotes from Rumpole and Minder. Basil Fawlty used terms like 'the dragon' for his wife Sybil, and I think on one occasion 'little nest of vipers'...

sadbodyblue · 15/02/2014 14:51

wouldn't bother me but haven't heard it in years.

in dhs phone my number is listed under God! too right.

NymodigFruOla · 15/02/2014 15:31

In fairness to the OP, she said she's not in the UK - so never heard the expression. She wouldn't be familiar with Minder, or any other 'cockney sparra' expressions.

I have heard, apocryphally, the expression EPO = Entertainments Prevention Officer = Wife Hmm

123Jump · 15/02/2014 15:33

My FIL uses it for MIL. He is a complete sweetie, and devoted to his wife.

Juliaparker25 · 15/02/2014 15:45

I am known as "My Keeper"

LondonInHighHeeledBoots · 15/02/2014 23:45

DH calls me 'Her Uptown' (I work up in town Smile ) or The Mrs, or the Boss, I call him Himself or The Husband.

I think it depends on the relationship, if you are in a possessive or unequal partnership them anything you call your partner is going to reflect that

I think I need to tell DH to call me The Kommendant from now on though. And I have to buy the awesome coat that got him calling me that a while ago!

expatinscotland · 15/02/2014 23:48

My ex boyfriends referred to his new girlfriend as 'the good lady'. He's a prick.

WilsonFrickett · 15/02/2014 23:54

I barely remember Minder but even so I got that 'er indoors was the one who had all the power. It's really not the worst thing I've heard.

But DH is known as 'the husband currently known as mine' so I'm probably not the one to ask...

derailleurondebike · 15/02/2014 23:57

friend refers to his wife as "the current Mrs Smith.." - she has been the one and only wife for 25 yrs.

derailleurondebike · 16/02/2014 00:00

iirc Arthur lived in fear of "What er indoors would say" about stuff.

yes if any rel was unbalanced and 'bad' then these names may be important, but humourful affection is great.

Love Mission Control.

ComposHat · 16/02/2014 04:47

If I heard someone refer to his wife as 'the wife' I'd assume they were a chauvinistic prick. If they referred to her as 'er indoors' I would assume they were a fan of minder.

Anyone who thinks 'er indoors' as the most offensive thing theyve ever heard.

  1. should look up hyperbole in the dictionary

  2. should get a subscription to Uk Gold.

NymodigFruOla · 16/02/2014 14:54

DP is convinced that one of our friends, who has a booming voice, refers to his wife as 'my Lady wife'.

I suspect that DP is exaggerating ; but I have heard the guy saying My Wife this that and the other.

Why he doesn't refer to her by her name, which, of course we all know, I have no idea Confused

Gruntfuttock · 16/02/2014 15:01

DonkeysDontRideBicycles "I would assume they're quotes from Rumpole and Minder. Basil Fawlty used terms like 'the dragon' for his wife Sybil, and I think on one occasion 'little nest of vipers'..."

My favorite of Basil's names for Sybil is "My little piranha fish" and I have been known to refer to my daughter in the same way, jokingly, of course.

MrsMoon76 · 16/02/2014 15:11

'Er indoors is a Minder thing for sure and Arhur lived in fear of her.

I would refer to DH as himself and when at home would refer to my dad as himself when talking to mum. Dad and all seven of his brothers refer to their wives as "The Boss" and their 88 year old mother is The Queen. Bless.

Gruntfuttock · 16/02/2014 15:15

I can't imagine being so totally devoid of humour as to regard "'er indoors" as "one of the most derogatory terms I have ever heard!"

Silvercatowner · 16/02/2014 15:20

I'm 'the ball and chain' fairly regularly. Doesn't bother me in the slightest as we both have a sense of humour.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 16/02/2014 15:28

Gruntfuttock There must be more but I can't remember them. Though I liked when someone asks Sybil how long she's been married and she answers "Since 1485".