10 Things You Should Never Do at the Dinner Table

Every person has their own dinnertime traditions. Some sit around the table with family to discuss their day, while others silently eat in front of the television, watching Wheel of Fortune. But when you’re dining out or are invited into someone else’s home, it’s extra important to practice good etiquette at the dinner table. Certain taboo actions may come across as rude and can ruin a nice meal, even if done subconsciously without any ill intent. Thankfully, such mistakes are easy to avoid, and these good manners can ensure a more pleasant dining experience for everyone around the table.

Reach Across the Table

It’s considered rude to reach across the table to grab a salt shaker or plate of fries, even if the item is technically within arm’s reach. For instance, your arm may knock into someone else’s fork and cause a mess. If you need something, politely ask someone else to pass the dish to you. Also, always pass dishes counterclockwise so that someone doesn’t end up being passed two dishes simultaneously from opposite ends.

Hover Over Your Plate

While leaning slightly forward is perfectly fine so that you don’t spill onto your lap, you should never bring your face directly down to the plate. Doing so evokes images of a dog eating out of its bowl — we all love our fur babies, but it’s still considered impolite. Instead, practicing bringing your fork up to your mouth rather than your head down toward the table is proper etiquette.

Blow Your Nose

Nothing yucks the yum of your fellow diners than blowing your nose into a napkin at the table. The dinner table is meant to be a sanitary place, so the idea of spewing your germs everywhere is enough to ruin everyone’s meal. Also, if you blow your nose into a napkin, what will you use to wipe your mouth? When you need to clear your nose, politely excuse yourself and go to the restroom, where you can do it privately.

Use Your Phone

Using your phone at the dinner table shows disinterest in your fellow diners, even if you just glance at the device for a few seconds. Keep your phone firmly in your pocket, or better yet, in another room where you can’t be tempted to look at it. That being said, there are extenuating circumstances where having your phone at the dinner table may be necessary, such as in case of an emergency. In these instances, explain to the table that you need to have your phone handy just in case, and they should be understanding.

Slurp

Sluuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrp! It’s one of the most jarring sounds to hear at the dinner table, yet we’ve probably all done it when eating soup. Just try to sip your meals more carefully and avoid making any slurping noises. That being said, slurping is actually considered to be a compliment in China and Japan, where slurping your noodles signifies to the chef that you’re really enjoying the food. But in all other countries, it’s best to avoid slurping.

Discuss Taboo Topics

Nothing derails a dinner faster than bringing up taboo topics. This may include politics, religion, money, and other hot-button subjects that often lead to bickering, even among family members. Keep the conversation more lighthearted, even if the people around the dinner table generally agree with you, as you never know what may set someone off.

Clean Your Teeth

If you’ve got something caught in your teeth, try dislodging it with your tongue while keeping your mouth closed. Alternatively, just excuse yourself and go to the bathroom, where you can take care of it. Never use a fork or finger to try and dislodge food from your mouth, as doing so is very rude.

Alter Seating Arrangements

When attending a dinner party or other formal occasion, there’s a chance of assigned seats. You should always adhere to these seating arrangements, even if you desperately want to sit next to your best friend who’s all the way across the table. Odds are that the host chose those seating assignments for a reason — maybe they’re hoping to encourage conversation among strangers. Whatever the logic may be, you should always stick to an assigned seat and avoid moving people around without permission.

Pre-Cut All Your Food

Some people may cut their entire dinner into small pieces before taking a single bite, but this is considered an ill-mannered practice. You should only cut food right before it goes into your mouth, leaving the larger portion intact until you’re ready to eat it. There is flexibility when dining with young children, as they may not be able to use a knife yet. But for adults, this is good advice to follow.

Wear Your Napkin as a Bib

Unless you’re at a seafood restaurant where they explicitly hand you a lobster bib, you should never take your napkin and tuck it into your shirt. People consider this rude and slovenly, as nobody wants to eat while staring at a dirty napkin directly across from them. Always keep your napkin across your lap, and only bring it up to clean your mouth when necessary. If you need to go to the restroom or excuse yourself, leave the dirty napkin on your chair instead of placing it on the table in view of everyone else.