QS
— mind [one’s] Ps and Qs (see MIND)
Q.T.
— on the Q.T. (colloq.): secret, quiet (also adv.) >These negotiations have to be strictly on the Q.T. >They got married on the Q.T.
QUAD
* quad (kwod) (colloq.): college campus square or quadrangle >There was a rock band playing on the quad.
QUADS
— quads (kwodz) (colloq.): quadriceps muscles (in the thighs) >These squat exercises are great for building up the quads.
QUEEN
— queen (sl., pej.): male homosexual (esp. an effeminate one) >Look at that queen wearing makeup.
QUEER
— queer1 (sl., freq. pej.): homosexual, overly effeminate male (also adj.) >He said some queer tried to flirt with him. >They say she’s not interested in boys, that she’s queer. >Where’d ya get that queer lacy shirt?
— queer2 (sl.): counterfeit, fraudulent >I got a queer fifty-dollar bill at the racetrack today.
QUESTION
— pop the question (see POP)
QUICK
* quick (colloq.): quickly earned (esp. unscrupulously) >He’s a con artist out to make a quick buck.
— make quick work of (colloq.): finish off quickly and completely >My two brothers made quick work of that large pizza—there’s none left. >The champ made quick work of the challenger, knocking him out in the second round.
— quick on the draw/trigger (colloq.): fast to react, quick-witted (cf. “SLOW on the draw”) >He doesn’t know any more than you, but he won because he’s quicker on the draw.
— quick one (colloq.): quick alcoholic drink >We got time for a quick one before dinner.
QUICK FIX
* quick fix (colloq.): temporary solution, hasty repair >The economy needs more than a quick fix to get back on track.
QUICK-FIX
— quick-fix (colloq.): temporary, hasty (said of a solution or repair) >Let’s do it right—no quick-fix answers.
QUICKIE
* quickie1 (kwik´ē) (sl., freq. vulg.): hurried sexual episode >They had a quickie at lunchtime in a nearby motel.
* quickie2 (sl.): quick, quickly completed >They got a quickie divorce in the Caribbean.
QUIET
— (it’s so quiet) you can hear a pin drop (see HEAR)
QUIT
* a ... that (just) won’t quit (sl.): an incomparable ..., an excellent ... >She’s got a body that just won’t quit!
QUITS
* call it quits (colloq.): stop (an activity), quit, desist, give up >It’s almost midnight—let’s call it quits. >They decided to call it quits after ten years of marriage.