English

Alternative forms

• present company excluded

Phrase

present company excepted

1. (idiomatic) These negative remarks do not pertain to anyone who is currently listening to them (including the speaker).
   • 1853, Charles Dickens, Bleak House, ch. 54:

     Everybody it appears, the present company excepted, has plotted against Mrs Snagsby’s peace.

   • 1921, P. G. Wodehouse, Indiscretions of Archie, ch. 26:

     "I say, Reggie, old thing—present company excepted—have there been any loonies in your family?"

   • 2009 Dec. 2, Romesh Ratnesar and Bill Saporito, "How Will Tiger Woods' Apology Affect His Image?," Time (retrieved 15 Sept 2013):

     Well, even Stanford guys aren't perfect (present company excepted, of course).

See also

• no offense

References

• present company excepted at OneLook Dictionary Search