mind one's p's and q's

mind one's p's and q's
{v. phr.} To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. * /When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their p's and q's./ * /If you wish to succeed you must mind your p's and q's./ (From the old U.S. Navy when sailors marked on a board in the bar how many Pints and Quarts of liquor they had taken. It was bad manners to cheat.) Syn.: WATCH ONE'S STEP.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • mind one's p's and q's — To be watchfully accurate and punctilious • • • Main Entry: ↑mind mind one s p s and q s see under ↑mind • • • Main Entry: ↑P …   Useful english dictionary

  • mind one's p's and q's — mind one s own affairs, pay more attention to one s own business …   English contemporary dictionary

  • mind one's P's and Q's — be very careful about what one does or says You should mind your P s and Q s and not say anything to offend your aunt. See: watch one s P s and Q s …   Idioms and examples

  • mind one's p's and q's — {v. phr.} To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. * /When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their p s and q s./ * /If you wish to succeed you must mind your p s and q s./ (From the old U.S.… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • mind\ one's\ P's\ and\ Q's — v. phr. To be very careful what you do or say; not make mistakes. When the principal of the school visited the class the students all minded their P s and Q s. If you wish to succeed you must mind your P s and Q s. (From the old U.S. Navy when… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • mind one's p's and q's — (Roget s IV) v. Syn. act properly, conform, mind; see behave 2 , mind 3 …   English dictionary for students

  • mind one's p's and q's — verb To be very careful to behave correctly. When we go to visit, do remember to mind your ps and qs, children mdash; we dont want another incident like last time …   Wiktionary

  • One with Everything: Styx and the Contemporary Youth Orchestra — Live album by Styx Released …   Wikipedia

  • mind one's own business — {v. phr.} To not interfere in the affairs of others. * /He finally got tired of her criticism and told her to mind her own business./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • mind one's own business — {v. phr.} To not interfere in the affairs of others. * /He finally got tired of her criticism and told her to mind her own business./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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