2007-03-08 15:58:06 · 11 answers · asked by mark j 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
There are many theories for this.
One comes from the pub, where you need to mind the amount of Pints and Quarts your poured
2007-03-08 16:04:12 · answer #1 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It was a term that was used in Irish pubs. The barkeep would keep track of a patron's tab on what was called a "scott".It was divided into two columns,one marked "P" for pints and the other marked "Q" for quarts. When the barkeep noticed that a patron had racked up a hefty bill,he would tell the patron to "mind your P's & Q's". If a patron managed to skip out on the bill,it was said that he "got away scott free".
2007-03-08 16:10:27 · answer #2 · answered by David F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old phrase that means, "Pay attention to what you're doing." It started because p's and q's, like d's and b's are easily confused by children. But p's and q's were more likely to be written or read incorrectly because of the infreuency of their use, compared to b's and d's. So the phrase was used to mean, "Be careful. Watch what you're doing." Now it is as often used to mean something like, "behave yourself," by those who don't know what the phrase really means.
2007-03-08 16:06:30 · answer #3 · answered by teachermama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard it came from Germany when pub goers would get to rowdy or loud the bartender would yell mind your P's and Q's meaning pints and quarts.
2007-03-08 16:07:29 · answer #4 · answered by Petra 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It comes from England when pub owners would tell the patrons to mind their p's and q's by which he meant pints and quarts of beer.
2007-03-08 16:04:26 · answer #5 · answered by MissWong 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It comes from the early days of printing and has to do with the fact that the letters p and q looked much a like in lower case and they had to be careful or they would confuse the two.
2007-03-08 16:02:21 · answer #6 · answered by cnc_13023 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I had previously read that it stands for "pints and quarts" meaning how much you had to drink at the pub.
2007-03-08 16:10:06 · answer #7 · answered by Lillian L 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i beleive it is from "mind your (P)ea jacket and (Q)erruque--it's like a wig worn by gentlemen.. like George Washington... and then the pea jacket was a short coat that gentlemen wore also... so mothers would teach their children to "mind your P's and Q's" so they would fit into society when they grew up.
2007-03-08 16:12:10 · answer #8 · answered by Your mom goes to college 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it just means be careful it originated from printing presses when P's and Q's would get confused for each other
2007-03-08 16:02:36 · answer #9 · answered by mekeiferp3 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
P=Please
Q= thanK You (the slur of k-u in the word thank you)
GET IT?
2007-03-08 16:02:32 · answer #10 · answered by Geo999 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋