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From: Derrick Weeks
Subject: Re: Burning Houses for Nails]
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Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 20:56:40 GMT
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In article <4g8hc1$nu5@nnrp1.news.primenet.com> jlong@primenet.com (John Long) writes:
>In article <DMzCAp.AFu@info.uucp>,
>alan auerbach F <aauerbac@mach1.wlu.ca> wrote:
>>Because p's and q's are not only adjacent but confusing to children
>>learning how to print letters, hence, mind your p's and q's,
>>as in, don't forget to dot your i's and cross your t's.
>

As an alternative, it is my understanding that the phrase
"mind your Ps and Qs" originated in England and was advice
commonly given by a wife to a husband that was going to
the local pub for the evening.  The unabbreviated version
would be "mind your pints and quarts."

Derrick
