High maintenance

Posted by Lewis on September 21, 2004

In Reply to: Low-maintanance posted by Bob on September 21, 2004

: : : : Woman to husband "I've hit the wall. If I stay low-maintenance any longer, I'm going to scream." (Fr Pardon My Planet)

: : : : Is there a synonym for "low maintenance" in this context? The closest I can come is "economical," which doesn't quite fit for one reason or another.

: : : "Low maintenance" here means that she does not require that her husband spend a lot of effort trying to please her and does not give him a hard time about things. Or, it could refer to her appearance as well. That is, she doesn't spend a lot of time and effort on make-up and such. On the flip side, there is the "high maintenance" woman who is just the opposite.

: : My youngest daughter=high maintenance.

: : Always hitting me up for cash for:
: : tanning salon, special nail treatments, skin treatments, hair treatments etc. etc. ad nauseam--2 or 3x a month.

: The question "is there a synonym?" I think must be answered No. It takes 6 to 8 words minimum to encompass all the facets of "high maintenance." Self-involved, vain, expensive, demanding, materialistic, blah blah blah ... that's just the beginning. It's really a rich phrase.

also - the 'high' and 'low' maintenance concept is about greed in divorce. unassuming women who are content with provision for the necessities would have lower monthly ('alimony') maintenance payments, whereas women who fit the other definitions of 'high maintenance' are going try to screw the ex for expensive fripperies.

I think that there may have been a discussion of the concept in "When Harry met Sally" - the guy explains that the woman (lovely Meg Ryan) thinks she is low maintenance because she has a salad but imposes about 10 different conditions about the salad which makes her 'high maintenance'.

It's an equal opportunity phrase Bookworm 21/September/04
- It's an equal opportunity phrase Brian from Shawnee 21/September/04
  - It's an equal opportunity phrase ESC 22/September/04