Setting down knife & fork after a meal

MrCoffee and I put our utensils on our plates differently, and have started wondering what the proper English way is.
My knife & fork are placed alongside one another at 4:20 o'clock on the plate (with the fork prongs pointing downwards), whereas MrCoffee places his so that they seem to say 8:20, with the fork prongs pointing up (I hope I'm expressing this clearly enough).

We've noticed that very often the waiter will ask him whether he's finished, but not me (or then the question is vaguely addressed to us both), so we've started to wonder what the appropriate way is to indicate being done with one's meal.

Any ideas?

You've got me all confused with the 4:20 and 8:20 bits. Can you explain? (Maybe I'm just being extra dense this morning.  ) But as for the prongs, I've always been taught that when you're finished your meal, prongs go up. Knife and fork side by side, prongs up.

As in, the way the utensils are placed on the plate. Their 'heads' are at the centre of the plate, so when they are placed down they look to form 8:20 or 4:20.
4:20 -- http://www.purplepenquin.com/clock2.JPG
8:20 --http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/dvanhand/2002deutsch103/clock8_20.gif

Does this make sense? I realize I suck at describing things... maybe the pics will help.

there's a certain way? I just put my fork (usually facing down), knife and napkin on the plate and push it forward when I'm finish.  im so classy haha

i've always done 4pm, prongs up and had no issues globally.

Does this make sense? I realize I suck at describing things... maybe the pics will help.

Makes perfect sense now. Sorry -- was having a bit of trouble picturing it before. I'm with Aimiloo -- 4:20 with tines up.

4:20

but always have put the tines up...just cause it rests easier that way

4:20 HEE HEE!   maybe inside joke, or a jaded past  

Sorry....yes I put prongs up 4 usually.

I just eat with my hands 

4:20 HEE HEE!  maybe inside joke, or a jaded past 

I just eat with my hands 

 

4:20 HEE HEE!  

(chuckle chuckle)

Knife and fork parallel, prongs up, anywhere around the 4:20 or 5:25-ish mark. 

I would have thought that leaving the "eating irons" at an 8:20 position would suggest that the diner has perhaps not yet finished. 

(chuckle chuckle)

thank you!  I'm not the only one!

LOL! I did think of the 4:20 implications, but had I just said 4 that could've mislead somebody to think I put one utensil 'straight up'...

Thank you, you have confirmed my suspicions (except for the prongs).

I would have thought that leaving the "eating irons" at an 8:20 position would suggest that the diner has perhaps not yet finished. 

I agree. I was taught that 8:20 with tines down is the "I'm not finished yet but am merely taking a small break" position.