Phrase info

present company excepted

Meaning

present company excepted

(idiomatic) These negative remarks do not pertain to anyone who is currently listening to them (including the speaker).

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Examples

Evil is an act, not an appetite. How many haven't wanted to slash the throat of some boor across the dining room table? Present company excepted of course. Everyone has the appetite. If you give in to it, it, that act is evil. The appetite is normal. Gregory Maguire

Words in the phrase

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