Why ps and qs

Accessed 11 Nov. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for p's and q's. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Log in Sign Up. Save Word. Definition of p's and q's. First Known Use of p's and q's , in the meaning defined at sense 1. Irish Proverbs. Trending Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about. Is Vatican City a Country? The Languages of Africa. On the stand , Bill was always careful to watch his p's and q's when dealing with the lawyers. This axiom , regardless of its origins, has been common in post-victorian Britain as an abbreviation of 'to mind your manners' or, more specifically, to say both 'please' p's and 'thankyou' thank-Q.

Thus the phrase 'watch your p's and q's' has been in use to encourage people to speak politely, especially children, who remember such phrases better than just instructions. Kid 1: You spill my pint? Kid 2: feck off! Home : News : Commentaries : Display. NEWS Oct. Do you know what it means? If you do an internet search on "Ps" and "Qs," you'll find this idiom has many different meanings, but the most common theme is to mind one's manners or be careful of one's behavior The saying can be traced back to the Oxford English Dictionary with the meaning of watching your step and being polite.

Well, at least we've narrowed down the letter "P" -- polite. One of the other common findings for "Ps" and "Qs" goes back to Old English pubs as an abbreviation for "mind your pints and quarts. This makes sense, but I still don't understand the connection between my bar tab and good manners unless it really means being responsible with your drinking and not letting alcohol dictate rude actions toward others.

I think some of us have had that experience and can say, "been there, done that. Now that I'm just a little older, I want to share with you my thoughts on "Ps" and "Qs," or the abbreviation for Professional Etiquette.

I know it doesn't sound as fun as Pints and Quarts, but professional starts with a "P" and, after all, there is a "q" in etiquette.