Be sure to mind your ps and qs when you visit your aunt this weekend. I worked for a printer back in the early 70s that still used lead type when he did business cards. If you mind your p s and q s or watch your p s and q s, you try to speak and behave politely. Since most nouns take an s ending for their plural, the s sound was dropped and thus pea became the singular. Since the letters in the press were reversed so theyd print forward, the printmaker or typographer needed to be careful not to confuse one letter for the other. She always minded her p s and q s in front of the queen, but their relationship wasnt that close. Where did the phrase mind your ps and qs originate. Back in the early days of printing presses, each line of text had to be set up one letter at a time. One is that it began in british pubs as an abbreviation for mind your pints and quarts. Another explanation suggests that ps and qs is short for pleases and thankyous, the latter of which contains a sound similar to the pronunciation of the name of the letter q. You may see the phrase as mind your p s and q s or mind your ps and qs or mind.
Since many salts were illiterate, keepers kept a tally of pints and quarts consumed by. Apr 30, 2008 it is sometimes written mind one s p s and q s though some feel that apostrophes are unnecessary in the plurals of capital letters, or mind one s p s and q s. Idioms by alphabet click on the alphabet to view idioms starts with selected alphabet. The jewel case may have been replaced and is not damaged. Mind your ps and qs means to be on your best behaviour. There are numerous theories about the origin of the phrase. The ced says that it is an alteration of the expression, mind your pleases and thank yous. Flickr brian talbot there are multiple delightful and unproven theories about the origin of the phrase mind your ps and qs. Mind your ps and qs was a reminder not to mix up the letters when putting them back in the rack after use.
A recent program on ps and qs excited a certain amount of comment. Apr 03, 2004 oddly enough, mind your p s and q s had nautical beginnings as a method of keeping books on the waterfront. Supposedly this warned the barkeep to serve full measure, mark the customers tab accurately, etc. Jan 15, 2010 initially derived from the word originating in overdue to mid1612 to concepts one s p s and q s. There are other theories but as the faq points out, the most plausible might be the explanation given by the collins english dictionary. Ps and qs are just the plural of the letters p and q.
Mind your pleases p s and thank yous the last syllable sounds like q. Sep 07, 2017 downloading the pq will not automatically download cache images. You may see the phrase as mind your p s and q s or mind. This started in your country, when measures of beer were marked on a slate before payment. She is really miffed that shes not been invited to the party. It originated in british pubs as an abbreviation for mind your pints and quarts.
A principle function of apostrophes is to indicate possession. Unfortunately as we are a developing business we do not accept returns and only offer the service of exchanges this includes exchanging for a size, style, color, item, and etc. The origin of the phrase mind your ps and qs, meaning to be careful of ones behavior, is not known. The first is in a poem by charles churchill, published in 1763. There some disagreement amongst grammarians about how to spell ps and qs either uppercase or lowercase and either with or without a hyphen. My favorite is that bartenders used to shout it during fights to. There is some disagreement amongst grammarians about how to spell ps and qs either uppercase or lowercase and either with or without an apostrophe. There are two tiers of membership, basic and premier. Oddly enough, mind your ps and qs had nautical beginnings as a method of keeping books on the waterfront. If the use of the apostrophe in contemporary english often marks the saxon genitive, it may also indicate the omission of one or more letters. Anyone who has worked as a printer s devil knows the answer to the origin and meaning of the elderly term, mind your p s and q s. The phrase mind your ps and q s is often used to remind people to be careful, and to remain on their best behavior. Another version of the advice to children origin has it that ps and qs derives from mind your pleases and thankyous.
It appears to have emerged around the 1600s, and the exact origins are actually a bit murky. Another proposed origin is from the english pubs and taverns of the 17th century. The conclusion must be that this is the true origin. I need to know the origin and definition of watch your p s and q s i remember some time ago hearing that p and q are of a latin basis, but cannot remember exactly. What is the origin of the phrase, mind your ps and qs. The word peas came from the latin word pisum, and was adopted into english as pease. Qs definition and meaning collins english dictionary. I must preface my remarks on the origin of the term with brief background. Sallys got very strict ideas about how her children should behave, so mind your ps and qs. Reminding someone to watch his ps and qs means to pay attention to the details. Ps and qs definition of ps and qs by merriamwebster. On all occasions next the chair he stands for service of the mayor, and to instruct him how to use his as and bs, and ps and qs.
Looks like your computer is running a operating system we no longer support, but you can still download and play your games using an older version of origin. This has scince evolved into a saying meaning be polite. The ced says that it is an alteration of the expression, mind your please s and thank you s. Henkle in educational notes and queries in 1876, in this case the proper spelling of the phrase should be note your p s and q s, because the distinction of majuscule p and q does not pose a problem. They are also used to form contractions cant, wouldnt, which are rarely acceptable in scholarly writing, and the plurals of the letters of the alphabet ps and qs, three as. All the reference books i checked say that the origin of the.
A 10% discount on origin digital purchases including full games, expansions. In 1745 francis i purportedly demanded that his troops concepts their p s and q s. May 09, 2006 a principle function of apostrophes is to indicate possession. In 1745 francis i purportedly demanded that his troops concepts their ps and qs. Ps and qs definition is something such as ones manners that one should be mindful of. A blog about quilting and sewing with quiltalongs qal. Oed 3rd edition 2007 says that the origin of the phrase is unknown and states that a common suggestion is that the phrase originates with the distinction of the minuscule letters p and q in either the schoolroom or the printingoffice, but goes on to say that the chronology of the senses argues against this. And if you were to commit a fallacy, i think you would need to mind your ps and qs in an argument. The mother reminded her young children to mind their ps and qs when they went over to their friends houses for play dates. A short dictionary of british slang oxford international. If you want to download the images, click on the three dots in the top right and choose download cache images. Minding your ps and qs idioms by the free dictionary. The phrase dates to at least 1779 when it appears in hannah cowleys whos the dupe you must mind your ps and qs with him, i can tell you. Oed 3rd edition 2007 says that the origin of the phrase is unknown and states that a common suggestion is that the phrase originates with the distinction of the minuscule letters p and q in either the schoolroom or the printingoffice, but goes on to say that the chronology of the.
I need to know the origin and definition of watch your ps and qs i remember some time ago hearing that p and q are of a latin basis, but cannot remember exactly. Individual letters were called sorts, and if you used up all you had of a given letter, youd be upset, naturally, because you were out of sorts. Access to the vault, a library of games that just keeps growing all the time. I couldnt clearly see the floor, and i was concerned i might tread on the sensitive extremities of our two cats, who were in or around the destination. Flickr brian talbot there are multiple delightful and unproven theories about the origin of the phrase mind your p s and q s. Flickr brian talbot there are multiple delightful and unproven theories about the origin of the phrase mind your ps and q s.
Downloading the pq will not automatically download cache images. The origin of the printing process using moveable type around mid 16th century was made possible by using individual molded glyphs that were the mirrorimage of the desired. Play any games that have already been added as much as you want for as long as youre a member. General research division, the new york public library. And if you were to commit a fallacy, i think you would need to mind your p s and q s in an argument. 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. The more fanciful explanations for mind your ps and qs include. My favorite is that bartenders used to shout it during fights to tell people to watch their pints and quarts, but the oxford english dictionary says that particular origin story can be neither substantiated or dismissed. There are multiple delightful and unproven theories about the origin of the phrase mind your ps and qs. Whats the origin of the expression mind your ps and qs. This expression may originally have been a warning to children not to confuse p s and q s when learning the alphabet. Mind your ps and qs meaning in the cambridge english. The cddvd may show signs of light wear and may have identification marks from the previous owner. Pupils also had to mind the placement of the letters when writing the alphabet eg.
My parents are very conservative mind your ps and qs. Old market store all discs classified as good will play perfectly and come with the original liner notes. The phrase dates to at least 1779 when it appears in hannah cowleys whos the dupe you must mind your ps and qs with him, i can. That is widely touted as an origin but seems to me to be a backformation, that is, an explanation fitted to explain the phrase after it was coined in some other context. Jun 18, 2015 there are multiple delightful and unproven theories about the origin of the phrase mind your ps and qs. Dont forget to also download an offline map so you can see the caches in your pq on a map when youre not online. P s and q s definition is something such as one s manners that one should be mindful of. Ps and qs definition and meaning collins english dictionary.
What are the origins of the phrase mind your ps and qs. What is the origin of the saying mind your ps and qs. When the patrons would get unruly, the bartender or publican would tell them to mind their own ps and qs meaning their own drinks and not others business. I was once carrying several bulky pieces of furniture from one room to another in our home. Miffed is another way of saying you are confused or annoyed. Anyone who has worked as a printers devil knows the answer to the origin and meaning of the elderly term, mind your ps and qs. A free platform packed with great pc games and features built to make your gaming. In england, drinks mostly beer was sold in pints and quarts. This expression probably refers to the p in please and the pronunciation of thank you which sounds like q. Ps and qs definition of ps and qs by the free dictionary.
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