Does it seem odd to you or is it just me?

Why do some people refer to their partners using "The" ?

Eg - "The wife" has gone shopping.

Why won't they say "my wife" has gone shopping. It seems more affectionate this way, doesn't it?

They refer to their partners as if they are a thing !

Or maybe, it's part of the slang ?

It just seems so.. emotionless, dry and..what not