Basic Table Manners

    Take a moment to study some table manners before all of the company dinners and formal dinners with your relatives. Even if you've heard these rules before, a quick refresher course will help you feel confident and in control before eating with your boss or aunt.

    Here's how to mind your manners at the dinner table:

First things first:

    Mind the little details--you've heard them all before. Respond to invitations in a timely I manner; remember that it's always better to be overdressed; be fashionably on time; bring a gift for your host or hostess; and remember to silence your phone and keep it out of sight.

After you sit down:

    The first thing you should do is place your napkin in your lap. Leave it there until the end of the meal, or until you excuse yourself from the table. There's some debate about what to do with your napkin when you get up, but the most common practice is to place it on your seat until you return. If you're worried that your napkin has food on it that could stain the scat or your clothes when you sit back down, place it to the left of your plate instead.

Bread plate and drink：

    When in doubt, look to your hands. With your palms（手掌）facing each other, connect the tip of each forefinger with your thumb. You'll see that your left hand will form a "b", and your right hand, a "d". These stand for "bread" and "drink, "which you will find to your left and to your right, respectively.

What to do with the utensils（餐具）：

    Your safest bet is to start from the outside-the utensils farthest from your plate-and move inward as the meal progresses. However，dessert utensils may also be found above your plate.