What exactly is a "trophy wife" ? Definitions & opinions wanted.?

Question

I have heard the phrase "trophy wife" numerous times and am now wondering what it really is. I know what taxedermied trophy animals & sports trophys are but what exactly does the word "trophy" have to do with a wife.

If I were being called one, what would I be doing to get this label ? If I had to guess I would say it simply means a "great wife", but on the hand I get the impression that it could be an insult like the phrase "dumb blonde".

Set the record straight here and let me know what it means, or at least what it means in your area of the world.

: )

WOW... I had a different thought all together... I thought with the word "trophy", it would have at least meant something close to being a good wife, since other trophys mean "greatness" or "achievement".

Thanks for the eyeopener everyone !!!

WOW... I had a different thought all together... I thought with the word "trophy", it would have at least meant something close to being a good wife, since other trophys mean "greatness" or "achievement".

Thanks for the eyeopener everyone !!!

Answer 1

A "Trophy Wife" is a younger / attractive woman who marries
a usually much older wealthy man for power , money, security and
a guaranteed long term income.
The older wealthy man marries her for sex, beauty and arm candy.
A good pre-nup is always involved...
It guarantees that both parties are protected and get what they
want if they live up to their obligations..
It is as easy to love a rich man as it is a poor man and a lot more fun...Most women don't figure this out until they are worn out and no longer quality...
A "Trophy Wife" is like a new Ferrari to wealthy men...
Old beat up Fords are of no interest...

Answer 2

the very first person to answer this is giving you the best simplest answer. A tropyh wife should not be taken as an insult, or a compliment. its like this, think of yourself as a trophy. at first there is alot of excitment over this trophy. then the trophy gets put on a shelf, and is typaclly used to show off. then put away again...
the trophy is very pretty, and thats obvious. but the guy has no real feelings about the trophy wife except lust for ego. age does not matter, its simply seen as the wife was chosen by appearance and nothing else.

being a trophy wife sucked. very depressing.

Answer 3

It can be an insult, but depends on the context and who is saying. It is meant to infer that a man has a wife simpy because she is beautiful. For exampe, a rich 60 year old man marries a 21 year old knockout. But, if the phrase is being said by friends in a joking manner it can be a compliment. My friend got married and his wife is gorgeous. I told him, "Well, looks like ya went out and got yourself a trophy wife." It was a joke meaning she was pretty. But, if someone says this you do not know well, then I would take it as an insult.

Answer 4

A trophy wife is someone that is really attractive that catches a lot of attention from other men. She could be horrible in other areas but she sure looks good on a mans arm. Usually when it is just physical attraction the marriage does not work. You need to have more then just a physical attraction to someone. You need to have chemistry and lots of things in common. Just being a trophy wife is not enough.

Answer 5

It's hard to judge the intent of the person who says it, but it can be complimentary or otherwise, I suppose. Think of "trophy wife" as being the married equivalent to "arm candy", which suggest the man only has her because she is a beautiful bimbo, and non-seriously.

"Trophy wife" suggests that the speaker thinks of you as being more beautiful and intelligent and probably better socially, than your husband deserves, and of higher status than he is. Use of the term seems more of a put-down to your husband than to you.

Frankly, that's a remark that if made in your presence about you, deserves either a smile or thank you, such that everyone else realizes your good nature, which sets you apart from the remarker.

Good Luck

Answer 6

Quote: rex_razor...About Me
Member since: January 04, 2007
Total points: 128 (Level 1)
Points earned this week: 1

Total answers: 43
Best answers: 1 (2% of Total)
BEST DEFINITION OF A TROPHY WIFE

"Trophy wife": A phrase made up by a bunch of old women who haven't seen a size 3-4 in 15 years, who are jealous that a successful man is married to a young, hot, educated woman who makes the older woman look like hell and a liability.

ROFL...THAT is the most generous description on here regarding that term so far!

I will do my best to clear this one up. It is no crime to love someone rich or poor. I like rex's answer. A lot of people do use the term out of jealousy. I can only say by my own experience, as I MIGHT be considered a "trophy" girlfriend. I am 32 and dating someone 49. He was afraid to admit his age when we first started dating (supposedly 42).

He is very kind to me, I am very kind to him, he pays his own bills, I pay my own bills. Neither of us are bad to look at at all and both look relatively young for our respective ages and are both in pretty good shape. He does take me out on the town and bought me an expensive jacket for christmas, but he gave from his heart, just as I did from mine.

I am sure there are negative people in the world who will look at us together and say I am some man's trophy, though - my supervisor at work (overweight, my boyfriend's age and single), or my ex boyfriend, (who actually thought it was his place to be my "trophy" and do nothing). I have no complaints and nor does my current boyfriend. The fact is we enjoy each other's company. We are both bright and fun, lovable people who see a lot of special qualities in the person we are with.

Am I interested in marriage? Possibly...okay, YES :D ...he's fantastic, and thinks I am too! Does that mean I am interested in marriage for financial gain? H*ll no. Judging by his reaction last week when someone told him his girlfriend was pretty (read: uncomfortable - he worries I am such a great catch I wouldn't want him) and by the way he treats me, I would say I am a lot more than a "trophy" anything to him, just as he is to me.

I'll give it up to those of you who knocked gold-diggers, though - that is about the lowest form of low, right next to the men who flaunt them.

Answer 7

My understanding of a trophy wife is ... A wife that is thought of as an object, something owned or won. She is for showing off A symbol of status. Someone to make an insecure dumb *** feel good about himself. Material girls make good trophy wives because the payoff is lots of stuff.

Answer 8

It means someone you don't care about that you marry because she will look good on your arm, the way trophies look good on your mantle. The two Greek shipping tycoons - one married Maria Callas, one of the greatest opera divas of her day, and the other married Jackie Kennedy - were the best examples in the last century of men taking trophy wives

Trophy wives can be smart or talented or famous or all three. There is another name for young women with ample bosoms who marry rich older men.

Answer 9

BEST DEFINITION OF A TROPHY WIFE

"Trophy wife": A phrase made up by a bunch of old women who haven't seen a size 3-4 in 15 years, who are jealous that a successful man is married to a young, hot, educated woman who makes the older woman look like hell and a liability.

Answer 10

Trophy wife is a highly pejorative term, usually applied to a physically attractive younger woman married to a man who has observed a high level of success, be it physical, financial, or otherwise. Usually, the Trophy Wife is not the first wife of the man who has a high level of success and has little to do with the achievement of that success. The term is often used to imply that the man's intent is to exhibit his wealth and success, the social phenomenon known as conspicuous consumption. The term "gold digger" is used to describe a woman who intentionally seeks this arrangement.

The marriage of former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith to oil magnate J. Howard Marshall is an extreme example as at the time of their marriage, he was 89 years old and she was 26.


Examples in fiction
* A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe
* The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith
* In the Fairly Oddparents episode, "Truth or Cosmoquences", Cosmo pretends to be a millionaire and married to pop singer Britney Britney (a parody of Britney Spears), for his high school reunion.
* Loretta Tortelli marrying Nick Tortelli (ex-husband of Carla Tortelli) in Cheers
* Gabrielle Solis, former runway model and wife of import/export business executive Carlos Solis on Desperate Housewives
* Kendall Casablancas, former cheerleader and second wife of real estate tycoon Richard Casablancas, Sr. on Veronica Mars
* Bunny Lebowski, former pornographic actress, nymphomaniac and second wife of Jeffrey "The Big" Lebowski in The Big Lebowski

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_wife