The Slice: Precise skills help you succeed at tuck and run

It’s the hap- happiest time of year.

No, not because of the holidays. It’s because this is sweater tag season.

For those of us who aren’t overtly warm and friendly, tucking flipped-up tags back under people’s collars is a near-perfect way to demonstrate our often overlooked good will.

It’s a gift that goes both ways.

In time, sweater wearers will remember to do this for themselves. By, say, February, tag fixing season will be all but over. But at this point on the calendar, lots of men and women forget to tuck in.

This presents glorious opportunities to demonstrate that, despite what certain people might say, you aren’t an awful person.

What could be better?

Sure, it’s a small gesture. Still, it sends just the right signal.

Of course, this has to be done properly. So, with that in mind, here are The Slice’s top 10 tag-tucking tips.

10. Don’t startle people. Declare your intentions before touching someone’s garment.

9. Don’t hang around as if you are expecting a medal. Reach out, do it and move on.

8. Don’t choke the person you are trying to assist. Yanking on the back of the sweater will ruin everything.

7. If you are a woman tucking a man’s tag, it’s OK to say it’s a nice-looking sweater.

6. If you are a woman tucking a woman’s tag, it’s OK to say her hair looks terrific.

5. If you are a man tucking a woman’s tag, the key is to be light fingered and not do or say anything that could be construed as creepy. Don’t touch skin. When in doubt, just cheerfully point out the flipped up tag and do not attempt a laying on of hands yourself.

4. If you are a man tucking a man’s tag, it’s OK to say, “Been dressing yourself long?”

3. It almost goes without saying that your hands should be impeccably clean. Don’t trap a sneeze and then grab someone’s sweater.

2. If you are a guy tucking a woman’s tag, do not under any circumstances let your gaze travel south of her collar line. (See No. 5.) If you want to communicate the fact that you think she looks smashing in her sweater, the thing to say is “That’s a lovely color.”

1. Don’t make any references to dandruff or lice. And watch out for fakes who purposely leave tags out in hopes of attracting your attention.

“Today’s Slice question: Has holiday spirit ever prompted you to seek to make peace with an enemy and then immediately regret it when that person reminds you exactly why you can’t stand him or her?