A quid for a quod means: A good turn to repay another.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
a quid for a quod
(UK, obsolete, slang) A good turn to repay another.
Definitions
UK
#1·Apr 26, 2026UK
(UK, obsolete, slang) A good turn to repay another.
For parents
A quid for a quod means: A good turn to repay another.. The word is mostly archaic or historical; you will only encounter it in old texts, period drama, or school history rather than current teen conversation. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
a quid for a quod means: A good turn to repay another.. Register: archaic, historical. Almost never used today; you will find it only in older texts, dictionaries of dialect, or historical writing. Avoid in active vocabulary. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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UK
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Semantically related
- quidlet67%
British slang for a pound sterling — a diminutive, affectionate riff on 'quid,' which is already the go-to informal word for a pound. A quidlet suggests something small, trivial, or trifling, like you're talking about chump change or a tiny amount of money not worth stressing over. It has a certain playful, almost Victorian charm — the kind of word a market trader or loveable rogue might use while waving away financial concerns.
- quidlet67%
(UK, colloquial) : one pound sterling.
- quidsworth65%
(UK, slang) pounds' worth, in terms of money.
- Quid61%
Also in form queed Wil.1 w.Som.1 [kwid, kwid.] 1. sb. The cud. See Cud, si.1, Keed.
- quids in59%
(slang, UK) In a position of having gained or saved money through some financial transaction.