better half
nounEtymology Ultimately from such Latin poetic phrases as animae dīmidium meae (“half of my soul”) (Horace writing about Virgil), when it instead referred to a close friend (compare soulmate). First written instance of it meaning “spouse” was in 1580 by Sir Philip Sidney.
1
A person's spouse or lover, most commonly a man's wife.
- Near-synonyms: other half (neutral valence), ball and chain (negative valence)
- Let me ask my better half and get back to you.
3 more examples
- But with that Argalus came out of his swoon, […], it seemed a little cheerful blood came up to his cheeks, like a burning coal, almost dead, if some breath a little revive it: and forcing up, the best he could, his feeble voice, “My dear, my better half,” said he, “I find I must now leave thee: and by that sweet hand, and fair eyes of thine I swear that death brings nothing with it to grieve me but that I must leave thee, […]1580, Philip Sidney, “Book III”, in The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, page 357:
- Quickly gentlemen, we got about fifteen minutes before Jimmie's better-half comes pulling into the driveway.1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by The Wolf (Harvey Keitel):
- Private life then, just to flesh out David Brent the man. Is there a better half?2002, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, “Interview”, in The Office, season 2, episode 6 (television production), spoken by Helena (Olivia Colman):
2
Archaic A very close friend or companion.