Related Phrases
The phrase qui pro quo (from medieval Latin: literally "qui instead of quid"), is common in languages such as Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French, where it means a misunderstanding. In those languages, the phrase corresponding to the usage of quid pro quo in Latin is do ut des (English for "I give so that you will give").
The two expressions seem to have the same origin, though they have different meanings. The Vocabolario Treccani, under the entry “qui pro quo”, observes that the latter expression probably derives from the Latin ‘quid pro quo’ used in late mediaeval pharmaceutical compilations (see the Vocabolario Treccani, http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/qui-pro-quo/)
Read more about this topic: Quid Pro Quo
Famous quotes containing the words related and/or phrases:
“There is nothing but is related to us, nothing that does not interest us,—kingdom, college, tree, horse, or iron show,—the roots of all things are in man.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“And would you be a poet
Before you’ve been to school?
Ah, well! I hardly thought you
So absolute a fool.
First learn to be spasmodic—
A very simple rule.
For first you write a sentence,
And then you chop it small;
Then mix the bits, and sort them out
Just as they chance to fall:
The order of the phrases makes
No difference at all.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)