p's and q's

noun

1. manners; behavior; conduct (usually preceded by mind or watch ):

   The children were told to mind their p's and q's.

p's and q's

plural noun

1. behaviour within social conventions; manners (esp in the phrase to mind one's p's and q's )

Word History and Origins

Origin of p's and q's¹

First recorded in 1770–80; perhaps from some children's difficulty in distinguishing the two letters

Word History and Origins

Origin of p's and q's¹

altered from p ( lea ) se and ( than ) k-you's

Example Sentences

Viewed this way, minding our p’s and q’s is less about proscriptive notions of correctness, and more about mindfulness, self-discovery and proper conduct.

From Seattle Times

“I was like, ‘This is going to be a 10-minute phone call, check my background, P’s and Q’s, whatever,’” UW director of social media Hadley Heck recalls of her job interview last summer.

From Seattle Times

“The last thing a head coach wants to do is talk to a social media candidate over the phone on a Saturday in July when he’s off. I was like, ‘This is going to be a 10-minute phone call, check my background, P’s and Q’s, whatever.’

From Seattle Times

“I have to watch my p’s and q’s. But God has supplied all my needs and I’m not complaining,” said Huffman, who will spend much of the season volunteering at food and clothing banks in her hometown of Greenville, Ohio.

From Seattle Times

Being aware of how to mind your p's and q's in each of those places is essential to getting by or possibly moving up in the world.

From Salon