to ask if you put your knife and fork together when you've finished your meal?

[m0therofdragons]

I've always done this and never actually thought of it as a thing until I met dh. He'd just leave his cutlery wherever on the plate. I can't remember but I guess I said something as he's been putting them together for years and I forgot he ever didn't. Recently he's been forgetting which apparently drives me nuts for no logical reason. In my mind it's just standard etiquette. Just wondered how weird I am really.

You're normal

Yes I do. I was taught it was the done thing.

If we're at the in-laws/out then I put them at five o' clock.

It's hit and miss otherwise.

Only when I am eating out/in someone else's home.

I might do it at home, I don't know
I am not conscious of it like I am elsewhere.

Yes and the dc do as well

Yes always

I was told it's how you signify that you've finished.

Yes, together and at 5'clock. This what we do at restaurants and likewise, my children have to do this at school.

It is standard etiquette. It means that you're finished your meal. In my waitressing days it used to drive me nuts when people wouldn't do this as it means you have to guess if they're finished to ask if you can clear the table. Even my 4yo knows you put your cutlery together in the middle of the dish at the end of a meal.

Of course. It's a fairly basic piece of etiquette

Yes, always.

Yes at school we wouldn't be allowed to leave the table until we had done it and it just stuck in my head, dh didn't get taught this but does it now as ds tells him

It is a sign to a waiter your finished with the plate and ready for it to be collected so I do it when I'm out but I find that I naturally do it at home as it is easier to carry the plate that way.

I do as does dh but he puts them together at the side of his plate which I was taught was a bit commom

I was taught that knife and fork straight and next to each other means "finished and enjoyed" but knife and fork crossed meant not enjoyed.

Funny, haven't thought of that for years, until we were bringing up DS - MrsLH thinks I'm weird (she can talk )

6 o'clock here.

Is this a British thing? Or do other countries do it too?
I do btw, as do most people I know.

I put them together to show i've finished in case the complete lack of foodstuffs left doesn't give it away

What's the 5 o'clock thing? I'm sure i'm being dense but what does it meeeeean?

Okay that's what I thought but then realised I could be the one with the odd upbringing. Dc do this at 6 and 3. Love dh a lot but his parents are socially awkward.

I do. 6 o'clock, though - you 5 o'clockers are just weird.

Yes I do this, was taught as a child that it was polite.

Yes I always do - second nature. So do the kids

Crossed knives means an argument you know!

Always. 5 o'clock too.

Yes if eating out or at someone else's house but don't really bother at home, I usually say something when I am done plus we don't have a waitress.

When I'm at home, I signify I've finished my meal by licking the plate clean....