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.

I do as far as im aware as does dh and everyone i know.

Apocalyse

Imagine the hands on an analogue clock. That's what 5/6 o clock means.

Tho I really mean 25 past 5 I suppose to be pedantic.

Always. I thought that was the signal that you have finished eating. Fork turned up not down.

I was also taught to put down my knife and fork between bites.

And to not overfill my mouth.

You can imagine the torture I endure eating with my lovely wonderful husband who eats like someone is about to come and steal his food (I'm fat but I do assure him his meals are probably safe ) and has the filled fork up to his mouth and waiting before he's even finished chewing the current mouthful.

He finishes a meal in 5 minutes and then I have to eat alone for 20. We are clearly incompatible.

I do - at 5 o'clock and fork tines down. I don't judge people who don't, though. Waiting staff always ask before clearing, anyway, so it's more habitual than useful :)

at 5 o'clock - Pedantically, at 25 past 5!

Always. DM drilled it into me ever since I was old enough to sit at table.

Just saw you've already pedantically amended that, SaucyJack

I.also.eat soup from.the opposite.end of the bowl as I was taught that was spolite!

My mum told me it was bad luck not to.

Of course. That's normal.

Americans do the fork, no knife thing. Where does that end up? Will be interesting to hear other cultures practices.

Yes always, I do it without thinking now I suppose. I was taught that knife and fork at 8 and 4 mean you are not finished, together at 5 means you are finished.

When eating out yes, at home, probably not. It is only to signal to the staff that you have finished so, unless you have staff, why would you need to?

Yes I always thought it was good manners to do so

Yes always. DH's family and kids don't - and also don't wait for everyone to be served before starting and reach over people rather than asking for something to be passed to them. I think that is all quite rude, but they aren't my kids.

Sorry to be pedantic but it's 6.30 not 6 o'clock!

It's the only natural way to do it anyway and something I still seem to bang on about to the DSs

I was so confused re the 5o'clock thing until someone said actually its 25 past 5 that's not being pedantic that's just being correct.

Always, but when I worked lunchtimes at a school I was surprised by how many children looked at me like I was crazy when they were told that was expected.

And with the fork prongs up and the knife with the blade turned in.

And the napkin crumpled not folded unless you are at home, when you put it back in the ring for the next meal unless it's somehow got grotty.

Greetings from 1935!

Until I met my cultured DH I had no idea that centreing my utensils was a signal for waiting staff to clear my plate.

I do now. He's learned things from me too.

I've also blown my nose into a napkin but that was a copious snot emergency rather than an etiquette fail.

The fall out from the serial sneezes was going to be really bad and I didn't have a tissue.

I'm such a terrible person.

Okay. I do 6.30 and prongs up with knife turned in (although only just realised I actually do that as it's not something I've given any thought to).

I have always put them together when I've finished eating. The other day I watched my 3 year old do it and was so proud - then I looked at my 12 year old who seems to have developed terrible table manners since moving to secondary and was not so proud.

another 5.25 here. I've definitely read that it's standard etiquette.

I wasn't aware of most of these rules, no one ever told me. I suppose I'd better start taking notes.

I always put mine together when I've finished a meal. I think almost everyone I know does it too!