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• A quinolimide-based reversible sensor QPC for Cu2+ and S2− was developed. • QPC and its Cu2+ complex had the high specificity to detect Cu2+ and S2−. • QPC possessed high quantum yield, short response time, and low cytotoxicity. • The INHIBIT logic gate was simulated by the addition of Cu2+ and S2−. • QPC had been applied to detect Cu2+ and S2− in water samples and living cells. A quinolimide-based reversible fluorescent sensor QPC with carboxamidoquinoline as the receptor was prepared for the relay recognition of Cu2+ and S2−. QPC displayed the high selectivity and anti-interference ability to Cu2+ through the 1:1 binding mode. Subsequently, the selectively sensing S2− with the QPC Cu2+ complex gave a remarkable recovery of the emission. The LODs of QPC and its Cu2+ complex for Cu2+ and S2− were calculated to be 47.8 nM and 0.178 µM, respectively. Moreover, QPC and its Cu2+ complex had the satisfactory recoveries 93.5–105.8% for Cu2+ and 97.7–104.0% for S2− in water samples, and exhibited low cytotoxicity, which enabled them to image Cu2+ and S2− in yeast cells. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]