BQ

What Does BQ Mean in a Text?

BQ means "Be Quiet." It is an abbreviation used in text-based conversations to tell someone to stop communicating (i.e., to stop typing as opposed to talking). It is typically used between friends as a response to a mild criticism. For example:

• Tim: You're late again - as always.
• Claire: Oh, BQ

Of note:

• Amongst marathon runners, the abbreviation BQ can also mean "Boston Qualifier," which is a finish time in a marathon fast enough to qualify for an entry into the Boston Marathon.
• In physics, BQ (written Bq) means "becquerel." A becquerel is defined as the activity of a quantity of radioactive material in which one nucleus decays per second. It is named after Henri Becquerel, who shared a Nobel Prize with Pierre and Marie Curie in 1903, for their work in discovering radioactivity.

Image for BQ

When I write BQ, I mean this:

Barrack Obama asking someone to BQ.

Summary of Key Points

"Be Quiet" is the most common definition for BQ on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

BQ
Definition:	Be Quiet
Type:	Abbreviation
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Examples of BQ in Sentences

Here are examples of BQ being used in sayings:

• BQ. Maybe if we all sit still, Monday won't notice us.

• If you can't be positive, please BQ.

An Academic Look at BQ

BQ is an initialism abbreviation. Technically, this means it is pronounced using its individual letters (i.e., Bee Cue). However, as the abbreviation BQ is typically used for efficiency in writing and not efficiency in speech it is not often uttered using its letters.

Initialisms contrast with acronyms, which are spoken like words.

What Did We Say before Texting and Social Media?

Before the digital era, we would have just said something like "Be Quiet" or "Shut Up" instead of using the abbreviation BQ.

Example of BQ Used in a Text

Quiz

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