work spouse
- noun
- Informal
:
cónyuge laboral
- I have had a couple of "work spouse" relationships where we worked closely together, knew lots about each other, and had a comfortable, habitual partnership that was not at all sexual and not carried on outside the work setting.
Examples
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When I need advice, I always turn to my work spouse for a friendly perspective.
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My work spouse and I often share our lunch breaks and discuss our projects at the office.
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Having a work spouse makes the long days much more enjoyable and supportive.
Antonyms
How Close
Surface Forms
Morphology
work + spouse
The meaning is directly built from 'work' (place/setting) + 'spouse' (marital partner) so a learner who knows both words can infer a spouse-like partner at work — i.e., a close, usually platonic colleague. Although somewhat metaphorical and colloquial, the composition is straightforward and predictable from the constituents, so it will be readily understood by a B1 learner.
Etymology
Work spouse may come from the image of a coworker who acts like a spouse at work: they support you, share problems, and work very closely with you, but it is not a 'romantic' relationship.