Their patience, the precision of their calculations, and the systematic nature of their reports show them to be civilized adults.
He could have come to me and we could have talked about it like two civilized adults.
A fine thing," she said acidly, "when I can't trust my protege and ward to conduct themselves like civilized adults in my absence!
Maybe someday, somewhere, there'll be an international conference where everyone behaves like a civilized adult, but when it finally rolls around it'll probably signal the end of the world.
Normally civilized adults are practically committing mayhem to get the thing.
Totally foolish behavior for two intelligent, civilized, sophisticated adults who were not really in love.
It's up to the American corporate society to say whether it wants a grownup, a civilized, conscientious adult, who happens to be black.
I grabbed a couple of cold beers and we talked out on the sun porch more or less like civilized adults.
You two continue to work together like civilized adults.
They would discuss the entire matter like civilized adults.