Econ...200 donald Wells...............ariZona.....................................
PawZ it
2006-06-19 01:23:20 · 15 answers · asked by Platinum Pawz 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
There are few of us who at one time or another have not been admonished to "mind our P's and Q's," or in other words, to behave our best. Oddly enough, "mind your P's and Q's" had nautical beginnings as a method of keeping books on the waterfront.
In the days of sail when Sailors were paid a pittance, seamen drank their ale in taverns whose keepers were willing to extend credit until payday. Since many salts were illiterate, keepers kept a tally of pints and quarts consumed by each Sailor on a chalkboard behind the bar. Next to each person's name, a mark was made under "P" for pint or "Q" for quart whenever a seaman ordered another draught.
On payday, each seaman was liable for each mark next to his name, so he was forced to "mind his P's and Q's" or he would get into financial trouble. To ensure an accurate count by unscrupulous keepers, Sailors had to keep their wits and remain somewhat sober. Sobriety usually ensured good behavior, hence the meaning of "mind your P's and Q's."
2006-06-19 01:28:29 · answer #1 · answered by waylandbill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This expression, meaning "be very careful to behave correctly",
has been in use from the 17th century on. Theories include: an
admonishment to children learning to write; an admonishment to
typesetters (who had to look at the letters reversed); an
admonishment to seamen not to soil their navy pea-jackets with
their tarred "queues" (pigtails); "mind your pints and quarts";
"mind your prices and quality"; "mind your pieds and queues"
(either feet and pigtails, or two dancing figures that had to be
accurately performed); the substitution of /p/ for "qu" /kw/ in the
speech of uneducated ancient Romans; or the confusion by students
learning both Latin and Ancient Greek of such cognates as _pente_
and _quintus_. And yes, we've heard the joke about the instruction
to new sextons: "Mind your keys and pews."
The most plausible explanation is the one given in the latest
edition of Collins English Dictionary: an alteration of "Mind
your 'please's and 'thank you's".
2006-06-19 01:27:44 · answer #2 · answered by mlblunt_ns 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means mind your manners
2006-06-19 03:50:38 · answer #3 · answered by *333Half-Evil* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means mind your own business
2006-06-19 01:36:38 · answer #4 · answered by angelpockets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Essentially be careful, mind details, don't neglect or overlook small things. For origin, see my source.
2006-06-19 01:55:21 · answer #5 · answered by helixburger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It basically translates to mind your manners.
2006-06-19 01:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by mommytocee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means mind your own business
2006-06-19 01:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by smitty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-06-19 01:29:03 · answer #8 · answered by leonard24seven 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means be good and mind your manners.
2006-06-19 01:32:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means to watch your "phrases and quotes".
2006-06-19 01:28:34 · answer #10 · answered by oohghee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋