starter wife (n): long-suffering woman who marries and emotionally supports a man through his lean years—maybe paying his way through medical school, or holding his hand while he auditions for non-speaking roles. Once he's reached the pinnacle of success and is making millions pumping lips full of collagen or gracing the silver screen, the starter wife is kicked to the curb in favor of a younger or more famous new mate. In Los Angeles, this often happens right before the 10th anniversary, as California law states that after 10 years, a husband can be made to pay alimony indefinitely.
LEFT BEHIND Starter husbands Chad Lowe and Ryan Phillippe got dropped by their more successful wives.
to be Cruised (v): to be canned just shy of one's 10th anniversary, in the manner of Nicole Kidman, who wasdiscarded by Tom Cruise shortly before the decade mark.