company manners

Idioms  

1. One's best behavior, as in George never interrupts when we have guests; he has fine company manners. This term employs company in the sense of “guests.” An older variant, Tell me thy company and I'll tell thee thy manners, uses company in the sense of “companions.” The current term implies that one is more mindful of politeness with invited guests.

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Example Sentences

Talking to a human friend required me to switch gears and put on company manners…by which I mean, any manners whatsoever.

From The Wall Street Journal

Calpurnia’s subtle rebuff—“Calpurnia was wearing her company manners,” treating Jean Louise more like a stranger—becomes a stark gulf when the woman asks, “What are you all doing to us?”

From Slate

His company manners are impeccable, and his style is enormous.

From Newsweek

At each inn, everybody puts on their company manners at once.

From Project Gutenberg

Every felicitous phrase or quaint conceit she met was treasured up, and to these were added not a few of her own invention, and woe betide the wight who accompanied her to opera, concert or lecture, for her sotto voce comments, murmured with a grave countenance, were disastrous to their composure and “company manners.”

From Project Gutenberg