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

Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — {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.… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • 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

  • 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 …   Словарь американских идиом

  • mind one's own business — verb To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others. I was just walking down the road, minding my own business, when I was attacked by a mugger …   Wiktionary

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