present company excepted

present company excepted

Without regards to the person or people in one's immediate vicinity. Everyone in this school is a self-centered, spoiled little brat. Present company excepted, of course. Present company excepted, there isn't a single person in this building who has the skills it takes to run the business.
See also: company, except, present
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

present company excepted

People say present company excepted when they say something about other people, to show that they are not referring to the people or person they are with. Men are hopeless at expressing their feelings, present company excepted, of course. Note: This expression is usually used when people are saying something critical or unpleasant about other people.
See also: company, except, present
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

present company excepted

excluding those who are here now.
See also: company, except, present
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

present company exˈcepted

(also excepting present ˈcompany) used as a polite remark to show that the criticisms you are making are not directed at the people you are talking to: My feeling is that the people around here, present company excepted of course, are rather unfriendly.
See also: company, except, present
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • present company excluded
  • sink to new depths
  • I'm all right, Jack
  • there's no I in team
  • sink to such depths
  • stoop so low
  • sink so low
  • A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle
References in classic literature
Everybody it appears, the present company excepted, has plotted against Mrs.
Bleak House
Especially if the press you're reading is tabloid sized (present company excepted, naturally).
Not feeling super about the rise of injunctions
The event followed the usual format, which eschews a red carpet and press (present company excepted) in favor of strictly casual dress and buoyant, off-the-record conversations: Jennifer Aniston talking with Elton John and Valentino, Captain America chatting with Thor (Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth), and Olympian Shaun White lingering at the exit wishing people like Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez a good night.
Happily ever after
Present company excepted, which political party is named after Irish thieves?
Military trivia & humour
However, you are forgetting the flip side, which is that television is littered with an army of talentless, yet sexy young females, who have made it on to our screens solely because of their beauty and not because of their presenting skills (present company excepted!).
Your Shout
There are also one or two Premiership referees - no names - who wouldn't expect to receive festive greetings from me and the same could be said of some journalists - present company excepted.
Savage Attack: So who's not on my Christmas card list?
Sad to say you won't even read what you need to know in the pages of most trade magazines (present company excepted) because most of those charged with keeping you informed need a crash course in the 21st century themselves.
So, where's the deviant? The grocery industry waits too long in the innovation cycle to recognize significant change, ignoring areas crucial to its survival. (Fast Forward)
He had chosen the Royal Berkshire Shooting School as the venue for this latest bout of extortion and, present company excepted, had chosen his victims well.
The day I took up arms for the cause - with Kenny Lynch at my side
Which, present company excepted, brings us to another American gripe about Englishmen.
You Englishmen are in love with teddy bears and football ...sex is only No.10 in your hit parade; THE BEAUTY BEHIND TV's SEX AND THE CITY GIVES HER VERDICT ON LOVERS THIS SIDE OF THE ATLANTIC
PRESENT company excepted, the perfect punter has never been born.
Sports betting: You'll Strach it rich on great awayday; EVEN THE BIG GUNS CAN BE SHOT DOWN