mind one's ps and qs

动词 v.
中文释义

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To be very careful to behave correctly. idiomatic
    — When we go to visit, do remember to mind your ps and qs, children – we don't want another incident like last time.

词形变化

minds one's ps and qs present,singular,third-person minding one's ps and qs participle,present minded one's ps and qs participle,past minded one's ps and qs past mind one's pees and cues alternative be on one's pees and cues alternative mind one's peas and cues alternative be on one's peas and cues alternative mind one's pees and kews alternative be on one's pees and kews alternative mind one's pees and ques alternative be on one's pees and ques alternative mind one's P's and Q's alternative be on one's P's and Q's alternative mind one's p's and q's alternative be on one's p's and q's alternative mind one's Ps and Qs alternative be on one's Ps and Qs alternative

词源

Uncertain; 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 school-room or the printing-office, but goes on to say that the chronology of the senses argues against this since no such connotation is evident in the earliest quotations.
In the early 17th century, however, there is the expression pee and kew in the sense of “highest quality, best possible”. Also recorded as in thy Pee and Kue in 1602.
Alternatively folk etymology claims that it comes from the sense that Ps and Qs mean 'Pints and Quarts' which were listed as 'Ps and Qs' before payment. The phrase would then come from minding your alcohol consumption as a result
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