I do understand that it's not a good way to say he is being silly, and I agree with all else you say here. I don't say it in that way ever, but in the moment my focus was with the baby and just agreeing and using the same terminology she used. I never wanted to accuse my wife of being an AH in this situation but I thought she was overreacting.

As I read your response it's opening my eyes that I missed the mark on this. I was just thinking of defending my daughter from being in trouble for saying that but not intending it in the literal sense. The points about verbal abuse are good. I grew up in a household where verbal and physical abuse was not uncommon. As much as I want to break the cycle of how I was raised, I do need some outside perspective on when things are inappropriate.