to think that "howling like a fishwife" is unacceptable

[Merguez]

when DH is using it to describe me.

Depends, were you?

oh um... was just checking that you are not one of the mums that were deafened overheard me shouting ds to come back from the bottom of the school field.

Tell him one 'howls like a banshee', or 'screams like a fishwife'. That should be sufficiently irritating.

Were you shouting though?
If you were then it sounds like a valid description.

No.

I was short with my son and with dh.

isn't it a very sexist expression?

If you're a fishwife, he's a haddock.

What were you screaming about?

And yes, it's not a nice way to describe a woman.

I wouldn't call it a sexist expression. But it implies that you're a bit..."common," and "publicly embarrassing" I reckon, and would be especially irritating if you were just being a bit short.

No- it's an historical expression and if it's not complimentary then you have only your own behaviour to blame.

Fishwives- that is to say women who sold fish and were often the wives and daughters of fishermen were frequently loud and foul mouthed, hence the expression being developed.

Dh is worse than I am. Loses his temper and swears in front of the dc if he gets stuck behind a slow car or at a red light. Then gets even angrier if I ask him not to.

you have only your own behaviour to blame.

How so Nutella?

" if it's not complimentary then you have only your own behaviour to blame."

Really?

I was short because I asked dh to help ds pack his rucksack for DofE tomorrow and he was languishing on the computer with a glass of wine and leaving it all to me.
Which I am now doing.
And I asked ds to sort it out this afternoon and he didn't.

I love the word "fishwife". Please don't get rid of any more colourful words

Agree claraschu it is a good word, but not justified in the context and also rather sexist.

What is the male equivalent insult?

I told dh he swore like a coal miner, but it wasn't as good ...

YANBU

"Faaaaackin 'ell who left they shoes byhere mun??"

Is what I think of as howling like a fishwife.

Where i'm from women talk like this pretty much as standard and their husbands just grunt and mutter things under their breath. Which is not be sexist. Just fact like.

A woman needs a man like a fishwife needs a bicycle

I don't find it sexist. Maybe a little prejudiced toward fish.

I suppose the only "male" equivalent I can think of is "swearing like a sailor" but that's come to be more neutral.

I think the most important thing within your relationship is the intent - is this meant as a put-down to make you feel bad? A joke meant to be shared? An honest pulling up of bad behavior on your part?

Letter it was said with anger and resentment by dh.

However, we are over it now ...

What would be a male equivalent?
Shouting like a town crier?

Swearing like a trooper, maybe?

Swearing like a trooper is used abojt women though. Fishwife is only used for women. Can't ever imagine it being used for a man unless he was feminine. So I do think it's sexist

"Swear like a navvy" is what I say.

Male equivalent? Swearing like a navvy?

You were bugging him.
He said it to bug you.