Keep it on the "QT"

[runwad]

I was talking to my kids and said keep it on the QT.

They're like what? What's QT?

I said you know when you don't want other people to know, keep it to yourself.

They said oh you mean the DL.

Yeah, ok that's right you say the DL now.

So they asked what does QT mean?

Uh? I don't know?

What does it mean?ha Quite time??? Who knows? Did you used to say this phrase?

 

[low-key]

I never heard the expression QT before, I must be to young

 

[PrincessShmoo]

q.t.
n.
slang for "quiet," in phrase on the q.t., attested from 1874. Phrase on the quiet appears from 1847.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

on the Q.T.
Secretly, as in They told her on the Q.T. that she was being promoted. Thisslangy term, in which Q.T. is an abbreviation for “quiet,” was first recorded in 1884.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

[Squirlz]

q.t.
n.
slang for "quiet," in phrase on the q.t., attested from 1874. Phrase on the quiet appears from 1847.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

on the Q.T.
Secretly, as in They told her on the Q.T. that she was being promoted. Thisslangy term, in which Q.T. is an abbreviation for “quiet,” was first recorded in 1884.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Isn't Google just the best?

 

[Malibustyle23]

Now op, will you go to your kids and tell them you are using slang from the 1800's?!!
Definitely losing all of your cool points now!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Love learning where sayings come from.

When my daughter was younger and her friends were over, I think I called one of them a turkey, and later told her she was just hamming it up. Her friend asked me why I kept calling them food.

 

[RedAngie]

I suppose I always knew what it meant, but I'd say keep this under wraps, or keep this hush hush, or keep it on the sly.

If DL refers to down low, I thought that meant straight men, often married, who had surreptitious sex with other men.

 

[Malibustyle23]

If DL refers to down low, I thought that meant straight men, often married, who had surreptitious sex with other men.

I wonder if R.Kelly knew that!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Love learning where sayings come from.

When my daughter was younger and her friends were over, I think I called one of them a turkey, and later told her she was just hamming it up. Her friend asked me why I kept calling them food.

 

[WDWJDS]

On the quiet tip

 

[wilma-bride]

My daughter told me she was in the club the other night and wondered why I nearly had a heart attack.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I never heard that one before myself.

 

[indimom]

We've always said, "Keep it on the down low." I've never heard QT or shortening Down Low to DL.

 

[cybrkitn]

The History Channel had a series called "America's Secret Slang". It was very interesting finding out the meaning behind a lot of the slang (or cliché's) that we use. The videos are no longer available on The History Channel's web site, but you might be able to find them on YouTube.

ETA: Looks like History Channel put the videos up on YouTube, but it's a pay per ep. But there is at least one ep that someone had put up that can be watched.

 

[shoney]

I remember my boss using the term "on the QT" over 20 years ago. I got the meaning, but not a phrase I use.

I can't help but think of Oprah and the "down low"...now that gives it a different meaning!

 

[lizabu]

I remember my boss using the term "on the QT" over 20 years ago. I got the meaning, but not a phrase I use.

I can't help but think of Oprah and the "down low"...now that gives it a different meaning!

I saw that episode too. She had a bunch of men who were living on the down low. They were all married but secretly homosexual and they would secretly cheat on their wives with men. That might be how I was introduced to the expression.

 

[NFLDERS]

Dang do I ever feel OLD!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I say DL.

 

[tvguy]

Yeah, at work I described someone who was drunk as "having a snoot full". The 20 somethings looked at me like I was crazy until one of them Googled it and all the hits defined it as "being drunk".

But I am old enough to remember when gay just meant you were happy. (Listen to the last line of the lyrics to the Flintstones theme some time)
Then it defined sexual preference.
And for my 20 something kids, when they were in high school, it mean something that was "wrong"

 

[littleblackegg]

I suppose I always knew what it meant, but I'd say keep this under wraps, or keep this hush hush, or keep it on the sly.

If DL refers to down low, I thought that meant straight men, often married, who had surreptitious sex with other men.

You are correct. Straight men who seek sex with other men are on the down low. I think it comes from 1970's bath house culture.