If it is a conversation, you can hold the knife and fork without putting it down, but if you need to make gestures, you should put down the knife and fork. Never hold the knife and fork in the air and shake it. It should be noted that at no time should one end of the knife and fork be placed on the plate and the other end on the table. The knife and fork have another very important function besides cutting the food into the mouth. The placement of knives and forks conveys the message of "eating" or "finishing eating".