trophy husband
1
7.9
- noun
- /ˈtroʊfi ˈhʌzbənd/
- Offensive
:
marido trofeo (informal, ofensivo)
- At the gala, everyone noticed the attractive trophy husband next to the wealthy older woman, showcasing their unconventional relationship.
It's very rare to find a man who wants, despite what my Instagram bio says, not many men want to be a trophy husband.
- It's very rare to find a man who wants, despite what my Instagram bio says, not many men want to be a trophy husband.
Examples
-
I'm a trophy husband.
-
Sandra's friends often tease her about her trophy husband, who is much younger and always well-dressed.
-
After her divorce, Jenny proudly introduced her new trophy husband, a charming younger man who always draws attention.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
trophy + husband
The noun 'trophy' literally denotes an award or prized object and when combined with 'husband' it creates a metaphorical image of a partner treated as a status symbol valued for appearance or prestige. This figurative shift is somewhat predictable from the constituents but relies on cultural/pragmatic knowledge of the metaphor (treating a person as a 'trophy'), so a B1 learner who only knows the literal words may not fully infer the precise social meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase trophy husband comes from the idea of a trophy, a prize people show off to prove success. So, imagine a man chosen and shown like that prize next to a wealthy older woman, and you see why it means 'a husband valued for his looks or status rather than for his personal qualities'.