How do you feel?

Neil: A bit nervous, but mostly excited.

I've been practising

my speech all morning.

Feifei: Just go out there, smile, and don't

forget: mind your Ps and Qs!

Neil: Eh? I know how to spell, Feifei.

Feifei: You know what I mean!

Neil: Don't worry! I won't offend anyone.

Feifei: Mind your Ps and Qs

is our phrase in The English We Speak.

If someone tells you

to mind your Ps and Qs, they're telling

you to be polite in a social situation, and

to be careful about what you say or do.

Neil: Feifei, I'm always on my best

behaviour. Now, let me

practise my speech.

Feifei: And I'll play some examples.

Gang, Gang, Gang! How many times

have I told you to mind

your Ps and Qs when you're with

your grandparents? Grandma doesn't

like that kind of language!

Last week's meeting with our new clients

was super frustrating.

But I had to mind my Ps and Qs.

As they say, the customer

is always right!

Lan always says the first thing that comes

into her head. I just hope she minds her

Ps and Qs at lunch today.

Feifei: You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning English.

In this programme we are looking at

the expression 'mind your Ps and Qs'.

So Neil, finished practising

your speech?

Neil: Not yet. I've been distracted

by today's phrase. I've been

looking it up online.

Feifei: And?

Neil: Nobody agrees where it comes from.

There are so many theories.

One is that printers

back in the 19th Century used

to get confused between

the small letters p and q.

Feifei: They do look similar! So they had

to mind their Ps and Qs. Makes sense.

Neil: And there's another about

bartenders in 17th Century England.

They used to serve beer in

measures called pints and quarts.

Pints with a 'P' and quarts with a 'Q'.

When a customer was

drinking too much...

Feifei: ... They told them to mind

their pints and quarts?

Their Ps and Qs. Yes, makes sense too.

Neil: And there's another...

Feifei: Neil?

Neil: Yes?

Feifei: Your speech is in one hour.

Shouldn't you be practising?

Neil: Oh! So it is.

Feifei: And... Mind your Ps and Qs!

Neil: OK. Bye.

Feifei: Bye.