[TalHex]

so i was having an arugement with my english teacher back when i was in school about the origins of the saying "mind your p's and q's". she said that it originated from mark twain and he said it in reference to the printing press. i argued that it originated as a welsh pub saying really meaning "mind your pints and quarts" as in don't cause a pub brawl. which of us is right?

[PhotonDrop]

It could honestly be either, but with the way the saying is traditionally used, I'd go with yours since it sounds more plausable.

I'm not sure dear Grandmama would talk about a printer when she wants bickering children to behave.

[UnderscoreX]

Like most fetishes, i'm sure it originated from Japan.

[TalHex]

*facekeyboard* i lul'd way harder then i should have at that

[Weeaboolits]

*homerows Talon*

Also, I have no idea.

[TheOneHero]

I do believe "mind your pints and quarts" is correct.

I can understand the printing press theory, not getting the p's and q's mixed up. But as history has taught us, most of our phrases/names come from way back when.

Golf for example: When it was invented, it was: Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. This was back in the day.

"Rule of the thumb": Way, way back in the day, men were allowed to beat their wife once a day, with a stick or rod no wider than his thumb.

Tell your teacher to stuff it, Ninja TOH is teaching today.

[TalHex]

hah! i was right! (i learned it from my dad, his grandfather was a coal miner and used to hang out at pubs a lot)

[PhotonDrop]

Mark Twain takes credit for a lot of things. Sure he's a genius, but English teachers give him credit for EVERYTHING.

I bet you didn't know Mark Twain once took a piss in the Mississippi River and created a cure for cancer!

Or that one time Mark Twain forgot to shave for a week and while strolling through the woods, a passer-by spotted him and started the legend of Sasquatch. D;

[TalHex]

mark twain: the english teacher's version of chuck norris

[Randomness]

Originally Posted by TheOneHero

I do believe "mind your pints and quarts" is correct.

I can understand the printing press theory, not getting the p's and q's mixed up. But as history has taught us, most of our phrases/names come from way back when.

Golf for example: When it was invented, it was: Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden. This was back in the day.

"Rule of the thumb": Way, way back in the day, men were allowed to beat their wife once a day, with a stick or rod no wider than his thumb.

Tell your teacher to stuff it, Ninja TOH is teaching today.

Beware the backronym.

Also, about rule of thumb... theres probably a million theories to the origin of it... a quick bit of research debunks yours.