the little woman
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthe little womanthe little womanold-fashionedMARRY someone’s wife – often used humorously but now considered offensive by many women → littleExamples from the Corpusthe little woman• A pinstriped husband in the city patronisingly fond of the little woman and her projects.• What is incomprehensible is John McEnroe's apparent efforts to keep the little woman at home.• The report explodes the myth that men are the bed-hopping rogues while the little woman waits at home.