Tag Archives: slang

Mind Your Ps and Qs!

This is an idiom that at first, seems a bit strange, even to a native English speaker. Why Ps and Qs? What exactly does it mean?

Well, it means to “be careful” or “be respectful (i.e. to elders)” or simply it serves as a reminder to young ones to be polite and on their best behaviour in public.

Why Ps and Qs? It originally came from The English bartenders! “Mind your Ps and Qs” = mind (or tend to, watch out for) your Pints and Quarts…of alcohol! Don’t spill any!

Funny eh?

There you go. Another strange English idiom root uncovered.

Hey, Learn Some English Idioms!

English Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions with a meaning that cannot be derived from the literal translations of the individual words. English Idioms are used in everyday life, work, school, the arts, business, activities, events and sports.

When you use idioms appropriately, it makes your English sound more fluent and more in line with what a native English speaker talks like on a daily basis. In short – you sound better, feel better and fit in faster.

Example 1:

We use the idiom “behind the times” to describe someone who is old-fashioned and has methods, practices, technology or even ideas that are regarded as out-dated.

(A) Some of my clients are so “Behind the times”

(B) Mine too, they have to call their trades in rather than use the web-broker.

Example 2:

When someone does something “behind your back”, the action, event or task was performed without telling you.

(A) Did Fred tell you he was taking the car?

(B) No, he took the car behind my back. I didn’t even know it was gone.

Example 3:

When you “make a beeline” for a place or object or location, you head there directly and quickly without allowing distractions. Many people think that bees fly directly to flowers without any delays so a “beeline” is named after this characteristic.

(A) Did you see Ross make a beeline for those cookies?

(B) Yeah, he walked straight up to the dessert table and helped himself to the chocolate chips.

These examples are taken directly (with permission) from an English Idioms Blog. If you would like to find more idioms, please visit the blog directly at:

English Idioms Blog URL
http://english-idioms.blogspot.com