what does this phrase mean?

Question

I was wondering what the phrase "A pint's a pound the world around"

Answer 1

It's a mnemonic device to help you remember that a pint (of water) weighs a pound - 16 ounces.

... and it's catchier than "a milliliter's a gram, let's have some spam."

Answer 2

Equivalent measurements: teaspoon, ounce, pint, pound

You will find a table of equivalent measurements in the back of many cookbooks:

1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1 cup = 16 tablespoon = 8 ounces
1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon
1 pint = 2 cups = 16 ounces
1 quart = 4 cups (2 pints) = 32 ounces
1 gallon = 4 quarts
1 pound = 16 ounces
1/2 pound = 8 ounces
1/4 pound = 4 ounces

Note that a pint is 16 ounces of volume, while a pound is 16 ounces of weight. The popular rhyme "A pint's a pound, the world around" can help you remember this, but keep in mind that they're not really equivalent.

Doubling a recipe can be easy (just put in two of each measurement), but what if you need to divide a recipe in half? Here are some measurements that may help:

Measurement 1/2 Measurement

1/8 teaspoon just a dash
1 tablespoon 1 1/2 teaspoons
1/4 cup 2 tablespoons
1/3 cup 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
3/4 cup 6 tablespoons

Answer 3

There is an old cooking phrase which addresses the weight of water and other similar liquids (and in some cases, solids) used in the preparation of foods: "A pint's a pound the whole world 'round". Actually, a pint of water weighs 1.04375 pounds. So, although this phrase does not provide the EXACT weight of each liquid, it does provide a very simple rule for determining approximately how much liquids weigh.

Obviously a pint is a measurement of volume and a pound is a measurement of weight. Because the density of most liquids and many solids used in cooking are *close* to 1 fl. oz = 1 oz, the rule of thumb works most of the time.

In the case of water, there are eight (8) pints of water in a gallon. Using this rule, a gallon (eight pints) would weigh approximately eight (8) pounds, which is very, very close to a gallon of water's exact weight of 8.35 pounds.

Although pints of milk, gravies and sauces are denser and actually weigh more than a pint of water, the cook can generally use his/her own judgment as to how much other liquids actually weigh.

I wouldn't rely on this "pint = pound" mnemonic for scientific conversions. Certainly a pint of mercury, melted gold or melted steel weighs much more than a pound. Similarly a pint of oxygen, helium or nitrogen weighs much less than a pound. But for a *rule of thumb* during cooking, the mnemonic can be helpful.

Answer 4

A pint of water weighs about 1 pound. The 'poem' above is an aid in remembering that fact.

Answer 5

It means a pint, which is 2 cups equals 16 ounces which equals a pound.

Answer 6

A pint equals two cups.
One cup equals 8 ounces.
Therefore one pint equals 16 ounces, also known as one pound.

Answer 7

A pint of beer costs 1 pound anywhere you go.

Answer 8

It means that a pint (unit of measure for beer in Great Briton) cost a pound (British dollar) anywhere you go.

Answer 9

A pint of water weights 1lb

Answer 10

A pint of beer will make you gain one pound.