WHEN TO SCHMOOZE, SHUT UP AT THOSE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS.

Byline: Elaine Glusac Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

'Tis the season to be jolly. And commit folly. Holiday parties - whether they are office celebrations or family fests - can be fraught with anxiety-causing conversational scenarios.

For advice, we've consulted two experts, Terri Mandell, corporate speaker and author of ``Power Schmoozing'' (McGraw Hill; $12.95), and Judith Martin, a k a Miss Manners, syndicated etiquette columnist and author of ``Miss Manners Rescues Civilization'' (Random House; $30).

Sticky situation: At the office party, you come face to face with someone much higher up the corporate food chain. It's a perfect opportunity to network, but you don't want to badger the mega-boss by blathering.

Solution: Make eye contact, smile and introduce yourself, says Mandell, who suggests small talk along the lines of: ``Hello, Ms. Smith. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jane Doe. I work in the mail room. Are you doing anything exciting for the holidays?''

Speak ``charmingly, but without seeing it as an opportunity to explain how to run the company,'' Martin warns.

Sticky situation: A colleague at the office party expresses his appreciation for your attire, stating: ``That red dress really enhances your cleavage.''

Solution: Ignore the remark - he's probably had too much to drink - and extract yourself. ``Treat it as if it were an accident,'' Martin advises.

Or, if he's really obnoxious, respond with a zinger.