Why do I need to know PQ?
Somehow it became an unlikely gold standard since the coronavirus epidemic pushed France and other countries into lockdown.
What does it mean?
Perhaps you already guessed it. PQ is slang for papier toilette – toilet paper.
P stands for papier and Q stands for cul, which means 'arse'.
Since France entered a strict nationwide lockdown on March 17th, PQ has become more popular – both as an expression and just in general.
PQ is the thing you really don't want to run out of.
So, while France didn't quite seen the panic buying seen all over the world, the French too stocked up on toilet paper just before the lockdown entered into force, fearing they might soon find themselves running low.
We will all laugh and say “remember when we ran out of toilet paper”
?♂️#OnceThingsGetBackToNormal pic.twitter.com/ZClaDPjD6z— EMAR (@EMAR_KAWA) April 14, 2020
Use it like this
Tu as acheté du PQ ? Did you get PQ?
Je pense qu’on a du PQ pour toute l’année, là. – I think we have enough toilet paper for the rest of the year now.
Pierre est fou, il a stocké du PQ comme un malade. Il pourra rester en confinement jusqu'au décembre. – Pierre is crazy, he stocked up on loo roll like a maniac. He'll be able to stay in lockdown until December if necessary.
Vocab
Papier toilette – toilet paper
Papier hygiénique – toilet paper
Un rouleau de papier toilette – loo roll
It makes me think if the English phrase, “mind youur P’s and Q’s”, which means mind your manners. The derivation of this English phrase is essentially unknown and it is not initials for something.