My lesser three-quarters

@JudyEv (328095)
Rockingham, Australia
September 11, 2023 7:15pm CST
I’ve written several times recently about idioms or phrases. One that I thought everyone would recognise, no-one did, and others that I thought were more obscure seemed to be well known. So what about ‘better half’? Have you heard of that one? It means your spouse or partner as they are one half of the pair of you. When we married, I weighed more than my husband and even now we weigh about the same. Sometimes I’ll be a kilo or two heavier and sometimes he is. Because I was heavier than Vince, I used to refer to him as my lesser three-quarters which really doesn’t make sense now I think about it properly. I was trying to be funny by inferring that he wasn’t as smart as I was. If there a photo accompanying this, it will be of a coffee mug we bought for the people we house-sat – the one with the cockatoo.
31 people like this
28 responses
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45816)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
12 Sep
Nice mug, clear glass is it?
6 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
It's called an invisible glass with a virtual cockatoo on it.
5 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111563)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Sep
Darn, photo didn't show up. Yes, around here every married couple I know refers to their spouse as the better half. As for me I'm the best whole.
5 people like this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111563)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Sep
I'm simply reusing previously posted photos so if the don't show up you probably already saw them anyway.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
The photo situation is a bit hopeless at the moment. I don't think I'll bother trying any more till it's fixed.
4 people like this
much2say
@much2say (54009)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Sep
Sometimes we will play argue about who is the better half .
2 people like this
much2say
@much2say (54009)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Sep
@JudyEv Hubby is about a foot taller than me, so I better have weighed less than him . I did tell Hubby that if he stayed with me, he would gain weight - and that he did . Yah, I've pretty much have more or less stayed the same too.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
@much2say My Mum stayed the same throughout her adult life too.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
It was a wonderful day for me when Vince finally weighed more. We're not huge people but Vince was very thin when we married. I've stayed much the same my whole life.
3 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
12 Sep
Does Vince ever complain about feeling put-upon? Yes, we say "better half", too.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
Vince complains A LOT!! Do you believe that?
4 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
12 Sep
@JudyEv Of course I do!
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
2 people like this
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (16011)
• United States
12 Sep
Oh yes, I always say Mike is my better half, and he truly is.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
Mike sounds a lovely person but I know you are too.
4 people like this
Dena Miller
@Dena91 (16011)
• United States
12 Sep
2 people like this
G
@freelancermariagrace (27240)
• Philippines
12 Sep
Because I am not married, I do not use better half. Hopefully soon, though!
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
Yes, I hope it's not too far in the future.
1 person likes this
Amber
@AmbiePam (86266)
• United States
12 Sep
Yes, I have definitely heard that one!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
It seems it's really common.
2 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130518)
• India
12 Sep
The idiom 'better half' is not new to me. It is used quite frequently here. Don't tell me that ' My lesser than three quarters' is also an idiom (lol)
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130518)
• India
14 Sep
@JudyEv Who knows. It may soon find its place among other idioms (lol)
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
No, the 'lesser than' is just one I made up. lol
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
@allknowing It's not beyond the realms of possibility I guess.
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (87041)
• United States
12 Sep
I can't see it yet, but I'll try to keep seeing this photo. You were heavier than Vince? No way. Yes I know better half..course I only had worse halves.
2 people like this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (87041)
• United States
12 Sep
@JudyEv I know what you mean Judy.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
Vince was very thin when we married. I've stayed much the same weight my whole life but he eventually caught up to me.
2 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (134784)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 Sep
I am the better half that is what my husband says all the time.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Sep
Your husband sounds amazing too. It's nice that he says that about you.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461850)
• Switzerland
12 Sep
Yes, better-half (la mia metà) is the same we use in Italy to designate our spouse, never partner, it's only used if a couple is married and only to designate the woman, a man is never called "better-half".
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461850)
• Switzerland
14 Sep
@JudyEv Only women, who are supposed to be "smaller than men".
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (461850)
• Switzerland
14 Sep
@JudyEv The exact translation of the Italian saying is "my sweet half".
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
@LadyDuck I understand. That's the thinking in many quarters.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (160234)
• United States
12 Sep
No photo. :-( Yes, we use the term "better half". Have a good day.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Sep
@LindaOHio Now you're skiting!! (Showing off/bragging)
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
You've managed a photo or two lately but they won't work for me.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (160234)
• United States
14 Sep
@JudyEv I've had two post on the first try two days in a row!!!
1 person likes this
DB
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
12 Sep
Yes, I recognize the phrase "better half" when describing one's spouse. Kind of a self-deprecating way to compliment your significant other. Sadly, no coffee mug to see. Oh well, it is what it isn't, lol.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
I wonder if we'll ever get the photo part back? I liked to see the photos of others and many of my discussions were based on the photo that went with it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Sep
@dgobucks226 I'm sure it's impacting on the interaction. I'm not posting nearly as much as usual.
1 person likes this
DB
@dgobucks226 (34586)
•
14 Sep
@JudyEv I wholeheartedly agree with you. The photo can not only explain your post meaning but draws the person's attention to it. A picture can express so much. Without this feature, it detracts from the site's interaction.
1 person likes this
M Cheung
@Beestring (13553)
• Hong Kong
12 Sep
Photo didn't show up. Yeap, I know the term "better half.".
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
It seems it's one that is pretty universal.
1 person likes this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (16578)
• China
14 Sep
I know about ‘better half’.If my memory serves me,Vince has diabetes,so he has lost some weight.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Sep
He needs to keep his weight under control which he does. I'd like to lose a few pounds but the weight I am now seems easy to maintain. It's really difficult to get it lower.
1 person likes this
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49371)
• United States
14 Sep
I’ll be happy when the pictures work again.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Sep
It will be nice, won't it?
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (97279)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Sep
I have used better half. Lovely invisible mug
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (97279)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Sep
@JudyEv That's to bad
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
I've just broken the handle off a mug here which is a shame.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (310131)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Sep
Yes, better half is well known here. That's funny. I'm sure he's a smart fella. He married you. That makes him smart.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (310131)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Sep
@JudyEv Yes, he is!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
Thanks. Yes, I suppose you're right. In fact, maybe he's VERY smart!
1 person likes this
relcap23
@florelway (23155)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
13 Sep
We also refer to spouse as the better half.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
It seems it's known over most of the world.
1 person likes this
relcap23
@florelway (23155)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
14 Sep
@JudyEv that is correct.
1 person likes this
Gill
@Gilljane (2904)
• Sutton, England
13 Sep
I heard of better half but not lesser three quarters
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (328095)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep
Lesser three quarters is one I made up.
1 person likes this
Gill
@Gilljane (2904)
• Sutton, England
14 Sep
@JudyEv Oh, Judy
1 person likes this