in polite company
phrase
: in formal settings : with people you do not know well
It's not something you should talk about in polite company.
Examples of in polite company in a Sentence
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No one admits to having asked a bad question in polite company, yet the difference between a superficial inquiry and a penetrating one often determines whether a company merely iterates or genuinely transforms.
—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
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Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“In polite company.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20polite%20company. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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