Idioms

decency

Also found in: Dictionary, Legal.

basic decency

Common, everyday courtesy, respect, and politeness that is expected and assumed by social convention. Please have the basic decency to at least consult me before you make some extravagant purchase. It is an assumed basic decency that you should help someone if they are in distress. I can't believe she came to the gala when she wasn't even invited. Has she no basic decency?
See also: basic, decency

common decency

Common, everyday courtesy, respect, and politeness that is expected and assumed by social convention. Please have the common decency to at least consult me before you make some extravagant purchase. It is just common decency that you should help someone if they are in distress. I can't believe she came to the gala when she wasn't even invited. Has she no common decency?
See also: common, decency

decencies

1. Necessities that give one an enjoyable or reasonably comfortable life. A: "Edgar, now that you two are married, I hope you're prepared to provide your wife with the decencies of life." B: "Yes, sir, I am. Only the best for my darling." Just look at her stunning gown with its ornate beading and lacework. It certainly seems like she's grown up with all of life's decencies, and then some. I can't believe he left me without a home after vowing to protect me and bestow upon me all of life's decencies!
2. Common, everyday courtesy, respect, and politeness that is expected and assumed by social convention. Have you no common decencies? Of course you should help a person in distress! It seems that the candidates in this campaign have tossed aside traditional decencies in favor of ruthless mudslinging. I can't believe she came to the gala when she wasn't even invited. Has she no common decencies?
See also: decency

not a spark of decency

A total lack of the common, everyday courtesy, respect, and politeness that is expected and assumed by social convention. I can't believe she came to the gala when she wasn't even invited. She hasn't a spark of decency.
See also: decency, not, of, spark
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
Pseudo-apologies are typical when someone says or does something especially offensive and egregious but lacks the decency to retract it and apologize completely and unreservedly, and instead seeks to blame the other person subtly.
How dissenters work: a look from inside Anglicanism
* A 16-year-old youth - who cannot be named for legal reasons - has received a reprimand for outraging public decency in connection with the incident.
Firework attack case man in court
According to him, freedom has been mistaken for licence and that is one of the reasons the world today has lost the conscience of decency and morality.
The World Has Lost Conscience Of Decency, Morality, Says Lagos Catholic Archbishop
It is the person and persons behind the knives, the rudderless immoral (through no fault of their own) young person who watches and learns from a society that s has seemed to have abandoned decency.
We knew right from wrong in staid days
Last month, Saudi Cabinet members approved the regulations that aim to uphold the values, principles and identity of Saudi Arabia, simplified in 10 rules on public decency, resulting in fines of up to SR5,000 ($1,333) when violated and doubled when committed again in the same year.
Public decency laws in Saudi Arabia 'still on hold'
Nugent's politics -- that's for another discussion in decency. I, too, am proud to be an American, but I regret the loss of decency we used to have in our great country.
Decency is the issue at McHenry fair
"There is no competition with a person who shows no decency while speaking and uses bad language.
No comments for those who show no decency: Raj Babbar hits back at Guddu Pandit
For a leader of a nation who should be the epitome of good manners and decency, this guy has been doing exactly the opposite since assuming office -killing the helpless in this country, for instance, and behaving in an embarrassing manner not only before his own people but before the whole world!
Embarrassing behavior
Kasi kaming public officials, dapat kami iyong halimbawa ng decency, kami iyong halimbawa ng pagbibigay ng respeto," she said in a media interview in Sumilao, Bukidnon.
Robredo reminds public officials of importance of decency and respect
Isolation destroys world trade and causes so much anger time and again, thus leading to needless wars, We are humble people, all we can do is vote, and hope decency and common sense once again takes its course.
What A Mess; YOUR POEM
Islamabad -- Calling his remarks against Sheikh Rashid a mistake, Pakistan Poeple's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has agreed that he should maintain the high standards of decency he has set for himself.
Bilawal terms remarks against Sheikh Rashid mistake, says he should maintain high standards of decency
This is where sovereignty comes up against-not a challenge to its sovereign freedom to act-but to the moral imperative to live up to a standard of reciprocal decency in its actions.
Why does the world need a new compact on migration?
GMP Chorlton and Didsbury said they had arrested and charged a man on suspicion of outraging public decency.
Birthday boy 44, arrested for exposing himself at tram stop
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