to mind one's Ps and Qs
1
8.6
- idiom
- Archaic
:
comportarse bien
- As a guest at the party, it's important to mind your Ps and Qs when talking to others.
Examples
-
If you want to make a good impression, you should always mind your Ps and Qs around new colleagues.
-
I figure as long as I mind my Ps and Qs and don't tip over into dickery, John and others will be (mostly) cool with it.
Blog text (15) -
During the meeting, please mind your Ps and Qs to maintain a polite atmosphere.
Synonyms
2
6.6
Be careful about how you act or speak
1
7.2
Be careful not to use rude or hurtful words
1
7.5
Be careful what you say to avoid offending someone
Antonyms
How Polite
- Archaic
1
8.6
747
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
Though 'mind' means 'be careful', the phrase 'one's Ps and Qs' is an idiomatic reference (with unclear historical origins) to manners and behaviour rather than to the literal letters P and Q. A B1 learner who knows the individual words would not be able to derive the meaning 'be polite/behave carefully' from the constituents, so the expression is opaque.
Etymology
Mind one's Ps and Qs may come from old printing shops, where workers had to watch the small metal letters P and Q because they look similar and could be put the wrong way. So the phrase now means 'to be careful about how you behave and what you say'.