A QUAINT SAYING.
For the origin of the phrase, "Mind your p's and q's," several solutions have been offered, but Dr Brewer thinks the following is the most likely to be correct: In the reign of Louis XIV. people were much more ceremonious in their manners than they are now, and it was the custom to bow to each other with great stateliness and formality. The correct society bow consisted of a step with the feet and a low bend of the body. Wigs of very unwieldly size were worn in those days, and they were apt to get disarranged, and even to fall off when their wearers bowed low. Hence the constant instruction of the French masters of deportment to their pupils was to mind their ps (pieds—feet) and q's (queues—wigs)."
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Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 12 June 1913, Page 6
Word Count
132A QUAINT SAYING. Northern Advocate, 12 June 1913, Page 6
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