company manners

company manners

Exceptional manners; those that are preferred or required in and among polite society. One must at all times exhibit company manners if one is to make a good impression among the more influential members of society.
See also: company, manner
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

company manners

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.
See also: company, manner
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • drive (one) out of office
  • cooking for one
  • 1FTR
  • as one door closes, another (one) opens
  • as one door closes, another one opens
  • as one door closes, another opens
  • at one go
  • at/in one go
  • all's one to (one)
  • be one of a kind
References in classic literature
Yet the Italians are rather plain-spoken, and they recognize facts which our company manners at least do not admit the existence of.
My Literary Passions
That three such high and mighty royal personages should arrive at once was enough to make Dorothy and her companions grow solemn and assume their best company manners; but when the exquisite beauty of Queen Zixi met their eyes they thought they had never beheld anything so charming.
The Road to Oz
(who represented the master of the house), when there came a sound from the terrace which, startled me out of my company manners on the instant.
The Moonstone
We must be careful to keep out of sight though, as these folk turn shy and put on company manners as soon as they see a stranger."
The Country Doctor
"It does seem pleasant to be quiet, and not have company manners on all the time.
Little Women
After waiting some quarter of an hour alone in the family sitting- room, which presented traces of having been so hastily arranged after a meal, that one might have doubted whether it was made tidy for visitors, or cleared for blindman's buff, Mr and Mrs Boffin became aware of the entrance of Mrs Wilfer, majestically faint, and with a condescending stitch in her side: which was her company manner.
Our Mutual Friend
Independent councillor Kevin Thompson, managing director of Thompson Opticians, has joined forces with haulage company Manners Transport to launch the district's first private commercial waste collection service.
Rubbish deal hits council
In this English, an executed document is one which is properly signed rather than one shredded into oblivion, consideration is the technical inducement for making a contract rather than company manners, and impeaching witnesses has nothing to do with jam jars.
Speaking in tongues (legal communication fetishes)