SINGAPORE — Sparking confusion and concern at a very tense dinner party, 32-year-old Marcus Goh proudly referred to his wife as a “really big fascist” on Sunday night — believing the term was simply a high-level compliment for someone extremely into fashion.

“She’s always coordinating colours, knows the difference between chiffon and crepe, and can spot a knock-off LV bag from 20 metres away,” Mr Goh explained to everyone present, including her boss and colleagues. “She’s the most fascist person I know.”

His wife, Mdm Goh, reportedly choked on a chocolate cream puff, blinking slowly as Marcus continued, “If your company had elections, you’d win by an inch!”

Mdm Goh, a marketing expert, gently asked if her husband knew what “fascist” actually meant, to which he replied, “Yah lah, people who are very serious about clothes. Like fashion police, but more hardcore.”

Sources say Mr Goh also once called a friend “a total communist” for sharing his fries, and described himself as “a raging anarchist” when his barber gave him the wrong haircut.

At press time, Mrs Goh was staring at her husband’s phone as he Googled “can you be arrested for being too fascist at Uniqlo.”