Any idiom for this please?

[Mehrgan]

Hi there,
I need an expression or idiom for the situation below:
You're talking to Sb and you want to mention Sth that doesn't sound appropriate (it may be taken in bad part by the person) so you try to make it clear you don't mean to address them. (I've already heard of this: "Saving your presence,...") (In Persian we'd say "far from you...")

Example: (person A is a writer)
A: So, what do you think of writers?
B: Well, (...the idiom I'm looking for!) I think some writers don't even understand the subject they're writing about!

Thanks...(Sorry for my awful explanation!)

[rlfwood]

Hi Mehrgan,

A standard idiom for dealing with that situation (at least, in American English) would be "present company excepted".

So, for example,

"I think some writers don't even understand the subject they're writing about (present company excepted)."

[Mehrgan]

Hi Mehrgan,

A standard idiom for dealing with that situation (at least, in American English) would be "present company excepted".

So, for example,

"I think some writers don't even understand the subject they're writing about (present company excepted)."

Hi dear rlfwood,
Many thanks for the expression. It's definitely of great help. And, yet, I wonder if anyone could give me Sth for daily speech. (It's, of course, great to have learnt such a nice expression,...So, ta!)

[Mehrgan]

Hi Mehrgan,

A standard idiom for dealing with that situation (at least, in American English) would be "present company excepted".

So, for example,

"I think some writers don't even understand the subject they're writing about (present company excepted)."

And, does "saving your presence" sound totally odd to you? Thanks in advance...

[rlfwood]

And, does "saving your presence" sound totally odd to you? Thanks in advance...

Yes, it does.

[Tdol]

Hi dear rlfwood,
Many thanks for the expression. It's definitely of great help. And, yet, I wonder if anyone could give me Sth for daily speech. (It's, of course, great to have learnt such a nice expression,...So, ta!)

You can use 'present company excepted' in everyday speech, and it's used in British English too.

[Mehrgan]

Many thanks to both dear posters...Ta!