mind one's pees and cues

English

Verb

mind one's pees and cues (third-person singular simple present minds one's pees and cues, present participle minding one's pees and cues, simple past and past participle minded one's pees and cues)

1. Alternative form of mind one's ps and qs
   • 1792, Thomas Holcroft, “Letter LI. Abimelech Henley to Frank Henley.”, in Anna St. Ives: A Novel, volume III, London: […] Shepperson and Reynolds, […], page 131:

     So do you tell her all a that I bid ee, and a mind your pees and cues.

   • 1906 December 31, “Starkville”, in The Scranton Republican, Scranton, Penn., page 6, column 5:

     We now thank the people to mind their own pees and cues.

   • 1969, Michael Feld, The Sabbatical Year, London: Alan Ross Ltd, page 116:

     ‘It wasn’t bad. If you minded your pees and cues you were chosen as a ball girl at the tennis tornament.’^[sic]

   • 1973, The Journal of Irreproducible Results, page 7, column 1:

     ΔpΔq = h has been a good reminder to physicists that, when Big Delta is watching, they should mind their pees and cues and never drop their aitches.

   • 1975, Joseph Julian, “Corwin”, in This Was Radio: A Personal Memoir, New York, N.Y.: Richard Seaver Books, The Viking Press, →ISBN, page 111:

     “I always insist that my actors mind their pees and cues.”

   • 1982 April 26, David Lacey, “Soccer Comment”, in The Guardian, London, Manchester, page 24:

     Liverpool’s marathon men mind pees and cues

   • 1982 May 15, The Guardian, London, Manchester, page 11, columns 2–4:

     Minding snooker’s pees and cues

   • 1992, David James Duncan, “The Shed”, in The Brothers K, Doubleday, →ISBN, page 116:

     What with the Big Leagues awaiting him however, and what with Laura, Marion, Everett and Peter all depending on Hugh for love, rent, groceries and such, he decided he’d better mind his pees and cues

   • 2000 March 9, Albuquerque Journal, number 69, Albuquerque, N.M., page B4:

     Movies have have top stars minding their pees and cues

   • 2004, Pat B. Miller, “Puppy Training and Housetraining”, in Positive Perspectives: Love Your Dog, Train Your Dog, Wenatchee, Wash.: Dogwise Publishing, →ISBN:

     Minding Your Pees and Cues: Housetraining Success!

   • 2006 October 11, Santa Maria Times, Santa Maria, Calif., page C5:

     Minding his pees and cues

   • 2007, Vicki Leon, “PARASITE. Like a louse, only bigger”, in Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World, New York, N.Y.: Walker & Company, →ISBN, page 273:

     A parasite had to mind his pees and cues at a symposium.

   • 2010 February 12, Daily News, New York, N.Y., page 22:

     [Tim] Gunn: Mind your pees & cues

   • 2014 May 20, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia, Penn., page 28:

     Boorish guest doesn’t mind his pees & cues

   • 2017, Ian Wood, Baker Street Ace ’Tec’, MacRyan, →ISBN:

     “Then you’re in!” said I, minding my pees and cues.