# Are you still doing the "cut'n'switch" while eating? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 5, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748 "2015-11-05T19:05:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/81 "2015-11-06T17:04:57Z")
Can y’all explain this “tines down” thing? You don’t seriously mean that you place a mouthful of squash or string beans across the _back side_ of your fork and lift it to your mouth that way, do you? How the heck do you keep it from sliding off? Do you drizzle honey on it first to make it sticky or something? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/82 "2015-11-06T17:30:56Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Can y’all explain this “tines down” thing? > > You don’t seriously mean that you place a mouthful of squash or string beans across the _back side_ of your fork and lift it to your mouth that way, do you? No. > [@AuntPam](#): > > When eating European style, the fork is usually held with the tines in a downward curve, the better to pin down food that must be cut. Alas, that also means that bite-size pieces of food must then be very firmly speared with the fork, and they can fall off as they near the mouth, or worse, the shirt. > > You’ll note that when Americans transfer the fork to the right hand, the tines are then curved upwards. This means that the fork also gains some scooping potential. Food can be cradled in the upward-facing curve of the tines. Of course, one _can_ turn the fork in one hand, to use it tines up or down. Right-handed American. Fork in the left hand, knife in the right hand (if I am using a knife at all). Never switch. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/83 "2015-11-06T17:33:28Z")
Ah, thanks. **AHunter3** asked what I’ve been thinking throughout this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/84 "2015-11-06T18:06:48Z")
Just had a chili dog for lunch. The kind you make at home, where there is so much chili you need to use a knife and fork. Mmmmmm, yassss. Fork in left, knife in right and pushing. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/85 "2015-11-06T18:16:32Z")
This could all be vastly simplified if people would just eat off of their knives. Slice, stab, lift, chew, repeat. Either hand will do. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/86 "2015-11-06T18:21:19Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Fork in left, knife in right and **pushing**. This is a good point, speaking to the utility of a two-utensil, tines-up approach to certain foods–which the purported “American” style does not permit. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/87 "2015-11-06T18:43:31Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Can y’all explain this “tines down” thing? > > You don’t seriously mean that you place a mouthful of squash or string beans across the _back side_ of your fork and lift it to your mouth that way, do you? How the heck do you keep it from sliding off? Do you drizzle honey on it first to make it sticky or something? Oh, this is apparently exactly what they mean - [Cite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYov9H3PKzM) ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/88 "2015-11-06T19:05:37Z")
> [@Doughbag](#): > > Oh, this is apparently exactly what they mean - [Cite](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYov9H3PKzM) That’s what I might expect of some alien species that was given a knife and fork and informed that earthlings use these implements to eat food, but had never seen it done. Truly astonishing. For anyone reading along but uninterested in loading a video, _yes, she’s eating peas on the back of her fork_. Nothing this silly gets to be designated as “civilized” or “polite”. I’ll grant that it’s a civilized and polite thing not to point and giggle if you see someone eating this way but that’s just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/89 "2015-11-06T19:37:44Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > I myself switch and I have never seen any American who did not. I’m amazed at the Americans in here who say they don’t switch. I’ve lived in California, Illinois, and now Texas. All I see are switchers. This. You have to remember, though, that Dopers are special. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/90 "2015-11-06T19:41:42Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > This could all be vastly simplified if people would just eat off of their knives. Slice, stab, lift, chew, repeat. Either hand will do. I’m an ambi-eater. I’ll use a knife and fork or even two forks. And yes I’ll feed myself with the knife as well. Then gnaw on the bone. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/91 "2015-11-06T20:48:45Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > For anyone reading along but uninterested in loading a video, _yes, she’s eating peas on the back of her fork_. Is she doing the thing of squashing them to make them stick, or balancing? (I skimmed the video and didn’t see any food actually transported at all.) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/92 "2015-11-06T20:59:07Z")
I’m American and right-handed. I prefer chopsticks, an elegant utensil for a more civilized age. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/93 "2015-11-06T20:59:31Z")
Didn’t grow up switching hands, and have never done it. I consider it to be a stupid and clumsy affectation, having nothing to do with manners. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/94 "2015-11-06T21:07:50Z")
Brit here. The utensil that goes in the mouth - fork or spoon - is held in the left hand; the other hand holds the other if there is one. If I’m eating dessert with spoon and fork then I’ll happily switch if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/95 "2015-11-07T04:25:38Z")
American with a Mexican mom. She would die a million deaths if we ate without switching. As much as I love Europe, that is one habit I can’t change. To me it looks very uncouth. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/96 "2015-11-07T04:58:30Z")
Uncouth to _not_ juggle utensils back and forth? ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/97 "2015-11-07T07:18:53Z")
Uncouth to always be holding your knife, as though you’re rushing through your meal. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/98 "2015-11-07T07:48:04Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Hey, **cmyk** that’s just like me, in every detail you mentioned. Do you ever get the same questions I’ve occasionally heard? (“Are you left-handed?” “Are you British?”) I wonder why they’d think you’re left-handed. I’m left-handed myself, and I’ve never met a left-handed person who doesn’t switch hands. ---
**Author:** ![Doughbag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Doughbag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doughbag)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/99 "2015-11-07T10:13:49Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > That’s what I might expect of some alien species that was given a knife and fork and informed that earthlings use these implements to eat food, but had never seen it done. > > Truly astonishing. > > For anyone reading along but uninterested in loading a video, _yes, she’s eating peas on the back of her fork_. > > Nothing this silly gets to be designated as “civilized” or “polite”. I’ll grant that it’s a civilized and polite thing not to point and giggle if you see someone eating this way but that’s just wrong. Sure, no argument here. But it’s not really how we eat either. It’s what wannabe posh Americans think off people eating I’m Europe. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > Is she doing the thing of squashing them to make them stick, or balancing? > > (I skimmed the video and didn’t see any food actually transported at all.) Oh, she’s balancing them, but she seems to have swallowed a whole brum cabinet before hand. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748/100 "2015-11-07T15:01:57Z")
> [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](#): > > Uncouth to always be holding your knife, as though you’re rushing through your meal. In the civilized world, the knife is not just for cutting, but also used as a stop for food that is sometimes difficult to scoop off a plate. A lot of Americans just use a finger, so couth is in the eye of the beholder. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-still-doing-the-cutnswitch-while-eating/736748.md?page=6)