golf widower

8.2

A man whose wife often plays golf and leaves him alone

noun
/ɡɔlf ˈwɪdoʊər/

Informal

: viudo del golf

Since retirement, Tom has become something of a golf widower as his wife spends every weekend at the course.

Examples

As a golf widower, Mark has learned to enjoy solo hobbies when his wife is away playing.
Many golf widowers find friendship with others in the same boat during golf season.
As a golf widower, he often spends weekends alone.
Many golf widowers feel neglected during the summer months.
As a golf widower, Mark enjoys exploring new interests while his wife is out on the course.
Many golf widowers bond over shared experiences and support each other during the golf season.
Since his wife took up golfing, Tom has embraced the identity of a golf widower, often discovering new hobbies to fill his time alone.

Synonyms

grass widower

vsgolf widower

Informal

9.9

A man whose wife is away or who does not live with her now

describes a man left alone because his wife often goes out to play golf

Surface Forms

golf widower singular

golf widowers plural

Morphology

golf + widower

The phrase repurposes 'widower' metaphorically to mean a man left alone because his wife plays golf, so there is a recognisable link to the constituent meanings but it depends on a jocular, culture-specific extension rather than straightforward composition. A B1 learner who knows 'golf' and the literal sense of 'widower' may only partially infer the intended humorous sense and would likely need exposure to the usage to be certain.

Etymology

Golf widower is a playful name that joins golf and widower and gives the picture of a man left at home while his wife is out on the golf course. That's why it means 'a man whose wife often plays golf and leaves him alone'.