[ilovetv]

Calling her "the wife" sounds like "the washer" or "the sink", but I don't think guys mean anything derogatory with it.

I think the first time I ever heard that was from Archie Bunker on All in the Family. I don't recall ever hearing it in the midwest where I'm from. Sad to say, All in the Family would never have made it to broadcast if it came out today. Somebody, somewhere might be "offended".