qt.

¹

abbreviation for

, plural qt., qts.

1. quantity.
2. plural qt qts quart.

q.t.

²

or Q.T.

abbreviation for

, Informal.

1. quiet ( def ).

qt

¹

abbreviation for

1. quart

q.t.

²

abbreviation for

1. quiet
2. on the q.t.
   secretly

qt.

1. Abbreviation of quart

Word History and Origins

Origin of qt.¹

First recorded in 1905–10

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the q.t., stealthily; secretly:

   to meet someone on the q.t.

More idioms and phrases containing qt.

see on the Q.T.

Example Sentences

Put the cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar in one qt.-size plastic bag.

From National Geographic Kids

Put this bag inside the second qt.-size bag, again removing as much air as possible and sealing it well.

From National Geographic Kids

The Hollywood sketch and improv mecca pits “Gays vs. Straights,” in a “gameshow death match” June 1, the venue’s first all trans/gender-nonconforming/nonbinary improv team delivers “QT’s Present…Joy!”

From Los Angeles Times

Put the cream, milk, vanilla, and sugar in one qt.-size plastic bag.

From National Geographic Kids

Put this bag inside the second qt.-size bag, again removing as much air as possible and sealing it well.

From National Geographic Kids

Related Words

• cutie

About This Word

What else does QT mean?

In slang, QT can mean cutie. Go ahead, try to say QT. It almost sounds just like cutie, an informal term for a cute person.

QT also an abbreviation of quiet.

How is QT pronounced?

[ kyoo-tee , kyoo–tee ]

What are some variants of QT?

qt

What are some other words related to QT?

• down-low
• sweetie
• honey
• cutie pie

Where does QT come from?

As an abbreviation of quiet, QT goes back to at least the 19th century. First recorded in the 1840s, the phrase on the quiet was an expression meaning “in strict confidence, in secret,” with shortened on the QT appearing in the late 1800s. Over 100 years later, on the QT was used, for example, as part of a tagline to the 1997 neo-noir film L.A. Confidential: “Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush …”

QT was used as a homophone for cutie (attractive, charming person or pet) in the early 1980s animal superhero comic book character Cutey Bunny, created by Joshua Quagmire. This comic was pretty niche, but a 1995 Usenet posting from a fan club of the book is an early example of QT online.

Beyond the comic, QT spread in early 1990s internet culture. It was, and is, used for cutie in various forms of digital communication.

How is QT used in real life?

On the QT is sometimes used as a more old-fashioned, noir-sounding version of on the down-low/DL.

Dear George RR Martin,
Everyone is waiting for the Woodward book, so if you’re at all anxious about releasing Winds of Winter, you could just do it now on the qt.

Your friend and fan,
Eric the Read

— Eric J Knudsen (@ejknudsen) September 8, 2018

Online, QT for cutie is popular as an affectionate and playful abbreviation for the various loved ones in our lives.

I 💚 Curt 2 because he is a QT and my BFF

— Ray (@rayganshae) June 1, 2014

QT 3.14 is a playful way of punning on cutie pie, 3.14 the rounded fraction for the value π (pi).