Origin of SWMBO??

[gtlaw10]

so as a crazed american i frequently find myself watching british comedy. today i was watching a series called Bottom, specifically s3e5 'finger,' and one of the main characters uses the phrase 'she who must be obeyed' in reference to his 'wife.' having never heard that phrase outside the walls of HBT - i started wondering if this is an old british phrase adopted for use.
so if there are any of our british members reading this any input would be helpful and for any wise forum member reading any input would also be appreciated.

 

[BendBrewer]

I heard it originated when President Obama took his dog to the pond to play fetch.

No photos to back this up but sounds good to me.

 

[El Pistolero]

It comes from the 1965 movie "She", starring Ursula Andress.

[URL="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://tonova.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/shewhomustbeobeyed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tonova.typepad.com/thesuddencurve/2006/02/shewhomustbeobe.html&h=423&w=525&sz=37&tbnid=wu-sXNEVRLX6EM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=132&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshe%2Bwho%2Bmust%2Bbe%2Bobeyed%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=she+who+must+be+obeyed&usg=__ob3tZEN2BNSQPSeRkvTJdi-yPJ8=&sa=X&ei=Gv7CTc6ZBITEgAeMxoneAQ&ved=0CHQQ9QEwCw"]She, Who Must Be Obeyed
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[gtlaw10]

nice el pistolero - many thanks.

 

[prrriiide]

It comes from the 1965 movie "She", starring Ursula Andress.

[URL="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://tonova.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/shewhomustbeobeyed.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tonova.typepad.com/thesuddencurve/2006/02/shewhomustbeobe.html&h=423&w=525&sz=37&tbnid=wu-sXNEVRLX6EM:&tbnh=106&tbnw=132&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dshe%2Bwho%2Bmust%2Bbe%2Bobeyed%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=she+who+must+be+obeyed&usg=__ob3tZEN2BNSQPSeRkvTJdi-yPJ8=&sa=X&ei=Gv7CTc6ZBITEgAeMxoneAQ&ved=0CHQQ9QEwCw"]She, Who Must Be Obeyed
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I'd of let Ursula Andress order me around some back inna day...

 

[pjj2ba]

It is older than that.

It was used a lot in the British tv show Rumpole of the Bailey.

From its wikipedia page.......
He secretly calls his wife Hilda "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (SWMBO), a reference to the novel She by H. Rider Haggard. - Late 1800"s!!!!

 

[critch]

It is older than that.

It was used a lot in the British tv show Rumpole of the Bailey.

From its wikipedia page.......
He secretly calls his wife Hilda "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (SWMBO), a reference to the novel She by H. Rider Haggard. - Late 1800"s!!!!

+1 for that one

was made famous by rumpole and reggie perrin though

 

[ChillWill]

It's probably from the Bible when Adam was referring to Eve.

I believe the serpent told Adam he should pick some apples from the tree of knowledge and home brew some dry cider, Adam said, I'll check with SWMBO.

...and was subsequently turned down on grounds of it making a mess, but Adam did it anyway and hence not obeying SWMBO lead to them being kicked out of the Garden of Eden.

"IMO"

 

[gtlaw10]

It is older than that.

It was used a lot in the British tv show Rumpole of the Bailey.

From its wikipedia page.......
He secretly calls his wife Hilda "She Who Must Be Obeyed" (SWMBO), a reference to the novel She by H. Rider Haggard. - Late 1800"s!!!!

hahaha even better response. i think i might go with the old as time route as well...