I know what it means when someone tells you to be on your P's and Q's, but I was just wondering what the two letters stood for in saying that. Anyone know?
2007-06-04 03:27:37 · 6 answers · asked by Punkie Brewster 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
There are 2 possible origins of the expression "to mind your p's and q's." First, when old typeprint used to be set, it was set backwards meaning that small p's and q's were frequently misplaced and not caught until after printing.
A second possible origin has to do with gossip mongers who were sent to local pubs to listen in on conversations to report "news." They would drink "pints" or "quarts" while listening in. Hence, they were told to mind their p's and q's so as not to get too intoxicated whilst listening!
2007-06-04 03:32:27 · answer #1 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As usual, we've got theories by the yard, facts by the angstrom. The more fanciful explanations for "mind your p's and q's" include:
It originated in British pubs as an abbreviation for "mind your pints and quarts." Supposedly this warned the barkeep to serve full measure, mark the customer's tab accurately, etc.
It meant "mind your pea (jacket) and queue." Queues (pigtails) were often powdered, and wifeypoo was telling hubby to keep the cruddy kid stuff off his collar. An even dumber variation of this involves "pieds," French for "feet," and says minding your p's and q's means combing your hair and polishing your shoes, or something like that.
P and q stands for "prime quality." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to be P and Q was a regional expression meaning top quality. It first shows up in a bit of doggerel from 1612: "Bring in a quart of Maligo, right true: And looke, you Rogue, that it be Pee and Kew."
The simplest explanation is that the expression refers to the difficulty kids have distinguishing lower-case p and q, mirror images of each other. Mind your you-know-whats was thus a teacher's admonition to students. Plausible? Yes. Sexy? No. Such is the fate of a slave to facts.
2007-06-04 03:40:25 · answer #2 · answered by sa_shhh_a 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I read somewhere that this is an old bar term originating in England. Most of their tap drinks are served in "pints" and "quarts", and the bar keeps would tell patrons to mind their P's and Q's when things would get a little out of hand.
2007-06-04 03:37:10 · answer #3 · answered by mattheww04 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it means: Mind your Pints And Quarts
P’s n Q’s: it actually means, Mind your Pints and Quarts. In Pubs when people would start arguing, the bartenders would tell them to mind their own drinks... being pints n quarts!
2007-06-04 03:31:51 · answer #4 · answered by _-*h3@+h3r.b0.b3+h3r*-_ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many feel that it is a typesetting term, as p and q could easily get confused (but why not B and D, as they look just as confused?)
2007-06-04 03:34:23 · answer #5 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"pints and quarts"
2007-06-04 03:32:25 · answer #6 · answered by arhoden76 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋