What does grass widow mean in German?

Strohwitwe - This German word literally translates as “straw widow” and refers to a woman whose partner is temporarily away - on a business trip, for example (a man in the same situation is a Strohwitwer). Today it’s mostly used jokingly: Ich bin diese Woche Strohwitwe. - My husband is away this week.

The English equivalent is “grass widow”, a term applied to divorced or separated women or those whose partners are often absent.

The origin is not certain. Du

• den suggests th
• at the word probably
• referred to a wife sleeping alone on a straw mattress while her husband was away.