Friday, March 26, 2010

Expressions Explained, Part 8



At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to watch the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in pints and who was drinking in quarts.

Hence the term minding your "P's and Q's."


17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Sally,

Ok, maybe I'm not familiar with such an expression since it is not common here. But what interests mewas the barmaid's job. My! What a job :-) Oh, my mind is thinking of a pub with lots of drinking customers LOL

Mizpah,
Li

Becky K. said...

That is not a job for me. I would be too busy talking to pay attention.

Becky K.

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Sally, thanks for the lesson. I did not know that. My Dad always told me to learn something new everyday. Well, today I have.

Darlene said...

I always love hearing where expressions have come from. Very interesting.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.♥

squawmama said...

Ok Sally... I knew the saying Mind your P's & Q's... It must be a baby boomer saying. And surprisingly I knew what it meant... BUT I love your Expressions Explained series! Have a great day!!!
(((HUGS)))
Donna

Musings of A Minister said...

Very interesting. I didn't know this.

April said...

How neat...I had no idea! Hope your doing well, Sally!

♥ Kathy said...

Another great one!

Anonymous said...

I'll be darned!

Anonymous said...

I have really enjoyed reading this series, Sally. Thanks for the postings.

Anonymous said...

I really have enjoyed this series, Sally. Thanks for posting them.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow---i didn't know that either Sally.... I love your posts on interesting expressions and how they got their names.... Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

Hi Sally! I wanted to check in and see how you were doing after your surgery! I have thought of you and you've been in my prayers!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;0

Cindy said...

Neat! How hard it must be to know when customers had drunk everything, because it wasn't in glasses, was it.
Cindy

Norma said...

I grew up in a printing community and was taught that "mind your p's and q's referred to the days of set type. Remember, they are backwards.

Gwendolen Elaine said...

hmmm...I am familiar with the saying, but not with it's origin.I love learning this kind of trivia.Very fun,Sally...Keep 'em coming!

Carly said...

wow, I learned something new today! Thanks!