Mind your p's and q's

Posted by Gary October 30, 2003In reply to Mind your p's and q's posted by sw on October 30, 2003

I had thought that this phrase came from WWII. When the UK and US were planning D-day, Churchill was Mr. P and Roosevelt was Dr. Q in code speak. Obviously secrecy was of the utmost importance, so the people involved would always say 'Mind your p's and q's'. Had anyone else heard this? Or am I confusing phrases?

Maybe a true story: maybe not. Either way it certainly isn't the origin of the phrase as it was in use long before that. No one is sure about the origin.