finishing school
Deportment training institution
A finishing school is a private institution that prepares young women for entry into polite society, emphasizing etiquette, deportment, and social graces rather than academic subjects.
The term carries an old-fashioned air, evoking mid-twentieth-century upper-class grooming: She attended finishing school in Switzerland.
The concept has largely faded, though the phrase persists in ironic or nostalgic contexts.
Customs of polite conduct
- deportmentManner and conduct
- comportmentManner of behavior
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
courtesy · decorum · grace · propriety · curtsying · introductions · correspondence · conversation
Smooth by rubbing
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- tasteFlavor perception ability
discernment · grooming · culture · aesthetics · finesse · gentility · well-bred · ladylike
Public declaration of identity
- presentationFormal display to viewers
- debutFirst public appearance
- cotillionFormal society dance event
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
gown · season · society · marriageable · courtship · introduction · escort · dance-card
Institution of learning
- curriculumEducational program's content plan
- headmistressFemale school principal
- enrollmentAct of registering officially
- graduationCompleting academic requirements formally
boarding · instructors · lessons · preparatory · syllabus · tutoring · examinations · dormitory
Rule by hereditary elite
- upper-classSocially and economically privileged
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- heiressFemale wealth recipient
- affluenceAbundance of money
privilege · pedigree · well-connected · exclusive · prestigious · status · blue-blood · gentry
manners
Customs of polite conduct
- deportmentManner and conduct
- comportmentManner of behavior
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
protocol · courtesy · decorum · grace · propriety · curtsying · introductions · correspondence · conversation · hostessing
polish
Smooth by rubbing
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- sophisticationCultured elegance and complexity
- cultivationFostering growth through care
taste · discernment · grooming · culture · aesthetics · finesse · gentility · well-bred · ladylike · worldliness
coming-out
Public declaration of identity
- presentationFormal display to viewers
- debutFirst public appearance
- cotillionFormal society dance event
ball · gown · season · society · marriageable · courtship · introduction · escort · dance-card · chaperone
academy
Institution of learning
- curriculumEducational program's content plan
- headmistressFemale school principal
- enrollmentAct of registering officially
graduation · boarding · instructors · lessons · preparatory · syllabus · tutoring · examinations · dormitory · semester
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- upper-classSocially and economically privileged
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- heiressFemale wealth recipient
affluence · privilege · pedigree · well-connected · exclusive · prestigious · status · blue-blood · gentry · establishment
- schoolscollege, academy, university, kindergarten, seminary
- high societygossip, socialites, socialite, aristocrats, aristocrat
- SouthernSouthern belles, sweet tea, front porch, grits, y'all
- aristocratic educationtutors, governesses, etiquette, deportment, protocol
- boarding schoolsboarding house, dormitory, dormitories, dorm, dorm room
- education historyeducation reforms, educational reforms, medieval universities, schoolhouse, primary schools
finishing schoolvocational training
Job-skill education
trade school · technical college · apprenticeship · vocational school · community college
finishing schoolreform school
Institution for young offenders
industrial school · night school · juvenile detention · workhouse · charity school
finishing schoolnursery school
Early childhood education center
kindergarten · elementary school · primary school · preschool · preparatory school
school, finish, finished, unfinished, schooling, finishing, schooled, preschool, unschooled