| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | P’s and Q’s. | | |
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Mind your P’s and Q’s. Be very circumspect in your behaviour. | 1 |
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Several explanations have been suggested, but none seems to be wholly satisfactory. The following comes nearest to the point of the caution:—In the reign of Louis XIV., when wigs of unwieldy size were worn, and bows were made with very great formality, two things were specially required, a “step” with the feet, and a low bend of the body. In the latter the wig would be very apt to get deranged, and even to fall off. The caution, therefore, of
the French dancing-master to his pupils was, “Mind your P’s [i.e. pieds, feet] and Q’s [i.e. queues, wigs].” | 2 |
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