I was watching this video about table manners (I just learned that british people use the back of their fork to pile food on while eating. I was just incredulous since it doesn't seem to be the most effective way and had to look it up) and there's this part of the video where the speaker explains how to know which utensils you should use first when there are more than a pair laid out to you on the table. However, he says something that I can't quite understand. I mean, I do comprehend the words he uses, just not what he means by them.

He says you just have to remember to "start with the utensils closest to you", which is fine. But then he goes on to say you're supposed to "work from your outside in". In my head, "the closest ones to you" are the closest ones to the plate. So how can you "work from your outside in"?

If you want to check it out, it's between 3:48 and 3:54 and this is the link to the video:

https://youtu.be/FDGGv7z5r2c

Question

I was watching this video about table manners (I just learned that british people use the back of their fork to pile food on while eating. I was just incredulous since it doesn't seem to be the most effective way and had to look it up) and there's this part of the video where the speaker explains how to know which utensils you should use first when there are more than a pair laid out to you on the table. However, he says something that I can't quite understand. I mean, I do comprehend the words he uses, just not what he means by them.

He says you just have to remember to "start with the utensils closest to you", which is fine. But then he goes on to say you're supposed to "work from your outside in". In my head, "the closest ones to you" are the closest ones to the plate. So how can you "work from your outside in"?

If you want to check it out, it's between 3:48 and 3:54 and this is the link to the video:

https://youtu.be/FDGGv7z5r2c

ducky1234 · Accepted Answer

Here's what I get from this part of the video.

There are forks and knives to the right and left of the main plate.  Those set of utensils are the 'utensils closest to you'.  (There are other utensils further away.)

Then from those closest sets of utensils, you start with the utensils furthest away from the plate.

usanative · Answer

You use a spoon and fork beyond your plate (where the glasses are) for dessert.

For the knives, forks, and spoons to the left and right of your plate, use the ones furthest from your plate.