Holding the door can be a tricky thing: While it’s polite to hold it for the person behind you, stand there for too long and you’ll become the de facto doorman. So, how should you avoid an embarrassing etiquette error in this situation? “Whomever arrives at the door first holds it for the people behind them, regardless of who it is,” suggests Thomas.
Luckily, these days, it’s expected that both men and women abide by this rule. “It’s not a gender thing. It’s a nicety and not something that should fall to the wayside in society,” says Thomas. Of course, making mistakes, like occasionally forgetting to hold the door, is only natural—just check out these 20 Embarrassing Things Literally Everyone Does.