Where did, "Mind your P's and Q's" come from? What are my P's and Q's and how do I mind them?

Answer 1

I thought it was something different from the above answer, in old printing presses, you had to set the typeface letter by letter and place them backwards, which meant it was very easy to mix up p and q, this is what my Grandma said anyway and her Dad worked in a press, I can't swear its true, but I thought I would let you know anyway!

Answer 2

The truth is no one really knows, and likely we will never know.

Some say it comes from the pubs meaning pints and quarts. Some say it comes from the printers because Ps and Qs are easily confused. Still others claim that it stands for Please and Than Q (thank you).

It is also supposed to stand for "Prime Quality" or perhaps "Pieds and Queues" A french dance figure.

There is no proof for any of these stories, so I guess you just have to choose which story you like best and stick with it.

Answer 3

Nautical Terminology: Mind Your P's and Q's

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."

Answer 4

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's."

Answer 5

It's an old British pub expression meaning mind your pints and quarts meaning watch how much you're drinking (don't get drunk) and also keep an eye on your tab (in case the barkeeper makes a mistake). In conventional usage, it means be careful, take care, watch what you're saying/doing.

Answer 6

In English bars, drinks are ordered by pints and quarts. In old England when a customer became unruly, the bartender would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down, pints being "p's" and quarts being "q's." It's where we got the phrase "mind your P's and Q's.

Answer 7

There are several meanings to this phrase. One being that in early printing days when type set was hand done the p's and q's were easily confused, It's meaning now is to pay close attention to a situation or something you are doing. There is an interesting website that gives more info. Thanks for the question!. I learned something this morning!