What’s a habit that mostly apply to Brits only?
Posted by Much-Parsnip3399@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 124 comments
Posted by Much-Parsnip3399@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 124 comments
greenbeanz_5@reddit
Not British but have friends that are....
Not rinsing off dishes after they've been in soapy water and scrubbed.
Spiral_Session@reddit
Putting the kettle on as soon as you get home?👀
Sirlacker@reddit
Apologising to the person who inconvenienced you. For example, someone bumps into you with a shopping trolly, you apologise.
Getting wound the fuck up but not saying a god damn word.
nogardleirie@reddit
I'm pretty sure I've apologised to a lamp post before
notspringsomnia@reddit
I apologised to my front door after bashing into it once!
mcardie@reddit
Willy the wimp
EmploymentNo7620@reddit
Ive apologised to countless manikins
Reasonable-Key9235@reddit
What did you do to them fgs?
EmploymentNo7620@reddit
What happens in the Sainsbury's clothing aisle, stays in the aisle.
Reasonable-Key9235@reddit
Oh, Sainsbury’s mannequins can be a bit frivolous. You might be in the clear tbh
Jonseroo@reddit
I apologized to the car that nearly hit me. Not the driver.
Euphoric-Piglet-8140@reddit
Who hasn't? :)
lucky1pierre@reddit
I asked for a non-alcoholic cider in a pub recently. I could see said bottles in the fridge. The barwoman told me they didn't have any.
I apologised and had a coke.
Pluvinel@reddit
You mean apple juice?
Living-Pin-4538@reddit
I'm guessing you are American. In the UK Cider is alcoholic, you call it hard cider. We do not call unfriended apple juice cider, we just call it apple juice. Non alcoholic cider is not apple juice it is hard cider with the alcohol removed and tastes like hard cider.
lucky1pierre@reddit
In addition, any mass produced, sweet, fruit alcohol that's around 5% abv is now commonly called cider, whether it's made from pear, berries, strawberry, kiwi, and a multitude of other fruits. This one was actually a berry one, so definitely not apple juice.
terryjuicelawson@reddit
Point and say "is that not a non-alcoholic cider I can see there?" and either they or you would stand corrected if they got it out and checked the percentage, no worries either way.
Laefxxx@reddit
I’ve noticed if someone asks me for something or for a favour, I do it and then say thank you to them??? So weird, trying hard to stop but feels the same vibe hahahaha
FjortoftsAirplane@reddit
Went out for lunch with some friends back on New Year's Eve. They messed it up and brought out starters we hadn't ordered and then brought out the right starters and the mains all at once. Then some discussion went on about whether was alright alright or not, and they told us they'd take the mains back and keep them warm, but if anything wasn't then they'd make it again.
Some of us were pressed for time so naturally I ate a lukewarm burger, told them it was all good when the waitstaff came by, and then vowed never to return.
Tamihera@reddit
I have thanked hairdressers profusely for haircuts so terrible I was holding back tears.
Defiant_Income_7836@reddit
LOL, I came here to say this...especially the 2nd point, I'm dying at this. Let's add being passive-aggressive as hell to this whole interaction as well!
Sirlacker@reddit
I forgot passive aggressive!
Doing favours for people you actively dislike just because you want to show them you're the better person. Is that passive aggressive or is that a seperate thing?
Reasonable-Key9235@reddit
I’m a welder and many years ago, a bloke I worked with, who was a horrible cunt, asked me to weld something up for him. I did my usual,”yep, no problem. When do you want it?” From years of welding and blacksmithing my hands were hard and coarse, I could pick things up that would be far too hot for most people. I welded up his bits, let it cool a bit, picked it up and went to see him. I was having to juggle with it a bit as it was bloody hot. “Here you go Mick.” And dropped it into his hand. It seemed to take a few seconds to register, by which time I was on my way back to my bench. Then I heard a loud scream of “ARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH! That’s fucking hot!” Burns bad enough he had to go the the first aid room lol
Defiant_Income_7836@reddit
I think that meets the criteria! And I've definitely done this,
GrumpyOlBastard@reddit
Canadians do this, too
CBWeather@reddit
Sorry about that, eh.
Gold_Association_330@reddit
This used to be me but it was becoming OTT, so I started to bite my tongue instead of apologising. It took some willpower but now I only apologise when I’ve done something objectively wrong. And if someone repeatedly does something I don’t like / that makes me uncomfortable/ frustrated - I tell them! Absolutely wild. Gives me quite the thrill sometimes.
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
Good on you. Sometimes we need to do that especially in a world where people will often push your boundaries
Alexander-Wright@reddit
Apologising for receiving an apology.
Euphoric-Piglet-8140@reddit
And saying "sorry not sorry" :)
MattheqAC@reddit
Sorry, I think you're spot on there pal
Caracalla73@reddit
Sorry
Tom_FooIery@reddit
I just tutted at the thought!
Ok-Anxiety-6605@reddit
Saying “right”, slapping your thighs and standing up to indicate you need to leave/need your visitor to leave
hotpossum@reddit
We do this in the American south. Or a knee slap and “I’ll let you get back to it.”
Hello-Potion-Seller@reddit
I noticed there's a lot of similar habits in the South adjacent to us Brits. Where I'm from catching frogs is a thing kids do, I was surprised when visiting Kentucky they do too!
hotpossum@reddit
I saw a thread recently of classic British phrases and recognized many of them as used here in Alabama.
w00lal00@reddit
❤️
Babelfishcat42@reddit
Speaking only one language
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
Ouch ( rubs elbow in English)
Tamihera@reddit
Also Americans, Aussies and Kiwis, tbf. Most of us expect that if we speak English VERY loudly and slowly, the locals will understand us. (Often they do, but resent it.)
Extra-Ebb-3529@reddit
Saying “thank you driver” when getting off a bus.
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
I wave instead of salute. Have I been doing it wrong
MayDuppname@reddit
Yep. You should also say "good morning Mr Magpie, how's the wife and family?"
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
Morning Mr mags , I know of and use but not the wife and family bit. I like it.
gmorganpie@reddit
Also a New Jersey thing, especially when commuting into New York.
RaisinZealousideal39@reddit
Oh, I just said this as well!
GrumpyOlBastard@reddit
Another thing Canadians do, as well
Japhet_Corncrake@reddit
"Cheers, drive".
RaisinZealousideal39@reddit
Saying thank you to the bus driver as you get off.
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
"Cheers drive" if you're west country
Aphr0dite19@reddit
Arguing about what makes something a cake or a biscuit, and the order of toppings on scones.
skewiffcorn@reddit
Don’t forget the whole housecoat vs dressing gown, maiden vs clothes horse, bun vs roll vs barm vs bap va cob etc etc
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
Maiden Vs clothes horse? Never heard that one before, do tell?
Hello-Potion-Seller@reddit
The dreaded bread debate... cob, bap, roll, barm or bun...
richard-bingham@reddit
Being rude to your friends. The better a friend, the worse names you get to call them affectionately
Hello-Potion-Seller@reddit
Yeah, it was a learning experience with a friend who's American, now they're worse than me lmao.
WorldlinessNo874@reddit
Waving thank you when using a crossing, and when a driver stops to let you through when passing a parked car.
Hello-Potion-Seller@reddit
Finland's crossings completely threw me off.
Ok_Attitude55@reddit
Politeness. False modesty about politeness. Intense viseral anger in response to a lack of politeness. Channeling intense anger into letter writing.
Hello-Potion-Seller@reddit
The venom behind "You're welcome." when someone doesn't say thank you.
RaisinZealousideal39@reddit
"I'm going to write a strongly worded letter" 😅
StockholmGirl29@reddit
Doing favours for neighbours that you really don't want to do but you'd be thought of as impolite if you refuse. Saying you'll never do it again then when the neighbour asks for another annoying favour, doing it! The cycle continues. I'm Swedish and Swedes are even worse. My neighbour lost her phone and asked me if she could use my phone to make some urgent calls. She's elderly and I lent her my phone for an hour. I felt so bad about her not having a phone that I bought one for her on Amazon, set it up with a new SIM and gave it to her the next day. She complained that it was blue! I felt bad. I returned the phone and ordered her a black one. She was grateful but I still feel guilty that I got her a blue phone to start with and she had to wait an extra day for a phone! My British husband thinks I'm crazy?
snavej1@reddit
Mainlining Yorkshire pudding.
MissAliceUk@reddit
Cannies in the park when its sunny.
Ruby-Shark@reddit
Offering a guest a second cup of tea, to indicate it's time for them to leave your house.
Tamihera@reddit
Or saying “We simply must have you over for tea/lunch!” when you have zero intention of ever doing this. Lots of fun to explain to my American husband—look, if you didn’t get invited for a specific time and place, it’s just nice mouth noise.
Cov_massif@reddit
Just having the '1' when you go down the pub
dirtytoyfantasy3@reddit
queuing for everything, always polite
Some-Background6188@reddit
Lining up at Greggs.
shredditorburnit@reddit
Dunking digestives biscuits in a cup of tea.
ProfessionalEven296@reddit
Making Tea as a response to a national disaster or crisis.
Much-Parsnip3399@reddit (OP)
How’s it like in America with a Scouse accent lol
ProfessionalEven296@reddit
In America, everyone thinks I speak like royalty - they love it! (This is an enormous country with no more than five accents, so they don’t have an ear for them…)
Fantastic-Pear6241@reddit
Truth
I have a northern accent and I've had it called "posh" before when visiting the other halfs (American) family.
nogardleirie@reddit
My colleague was on a train when the Queen's death was announced, and he said they brought everybody a free cup of tea to mark it
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
Aw that’s actually quite sweet . I was at a bar in Bulgaria and they only had peppermint tea but I still ordered it after I hear the news
atillathekitteh@reddit
Stood next to my father in law when he got the call that his wife had passed away last year. It was expected, so there were quite a few of us at his house. Don't drink tea myself but my first reaction was to make the biggest pot of tea I could muster, using real loose leaf that I have never done in my life! Everyone just sat there in silence drinking their cuppas, even me. Have never drank a cup before or since...
Caracalla73@reddit
Other side of my family are builders, large family get together, someone brings the Burko over to save the amount of times the kettle is off/on.
BellendBuilder@reddit
Intense queuing to the point we form lines instinctively.
EmploymentNo7620@reddit
Last month, I accidentally joined a qué outside a theatre. Ten mins before I realised.
smoulderstoat@reddit
My Auntie Gladys once told me that during the war if you saw a long queue you'd quite often join it, because there had to be something worth having at the end, and if you wasted time trying to find out what it was they might run out. This worked fine up until the time she found herself accidentally volunteering for the Women's Land Army.
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
Your Aunty Gladys sounds like a laugh . Did she have any other stories like that
BellendBuilder@reddit
I shouldn’t laugh but I did😅
Fair play to her though pal for sticking it out!
seven-cents@reddit
Unless it's a merging situation, where traffic would flow properly if everyone used both lanes and merged in turn rather than forming one long queue and then refusing to let the merging cars join. Brits hate that. "I was here before you!"
BellendBuilder@reddit
Oh I’m aware mate 😅 I always go to the end and it makes me chuckle when some bellend gets annoyed about it 😂
seven-cents@reddit
Slingshotting around and then gunning it on the straight so that any cars trying to turn out of adjacent roads while there's a reasonable gap almost get t-boned. It's almost always an Audi, BMW or Ford Focus driver
Indigo-Waterfall@reddit
Popping the kettle on for any occasion, good or bad.
FracturedMoonlights@reddit
Saying “anywhere here is fine” to a cab driver
Crafty-Zebra3285@reddit
As an American, I am pretty sure that’s universal.
No_Election_1123@reddit
I still do that in the US, even with an Uber to my exact address once we turn into my road I'm saying "anyone along here is fine" and he's thinking that my actual address is halfway down the road
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
Oh so we all do that? Good to know lol
Odd_Championship7286@reddit
Same! I hadn’t realised that was British but now I’m thinking about it I might be the only one here saying it
mulberrybushes@reddit
Arguing about how to make a cuppa.
(Corollary: jam first or cream first)?
LJGunn90@reddit
Every Brit knows there’s a wrong way and a right way. If you make it the wrong way you will be heavily scrutinised and banned from tea making!
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Teabag first… then milk let it sit till milk is slightly brown, add hot water and serve with teabag still inside
MayDuppname@reddit
You're a wrong un. A proper wrong un.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Why thank you
Oh-reality-come-back@reddit
I’m logging off now , goodnight :/
Caracalla73@reddit
Monster... To the tea offenders wing with you.
IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit
Anything but that! Dont want those type of bags
Jonseroo@reddit
Tea every 45 minutes.
MayDuppname@reddit
45 minutes?! I can't wait that long between cuppas.
HistoricalSession488@reddit
Saying “Lovely Jubbly”
MayDuppname@reddit
Oddly, that's the one English phrase most people in Egypt know, even if they know no other English.
evelynsmee@reddit
Tea as a response, notably to a calamity.
Arguing over the name of a circle of bread.
MayDuppname@reddit
...Even though cob is definitely the correct answer. I know I'm right and I will die on this hill. ;)
massie_le@reddit
Tea drinking
imtheorangeycenter@reddit
Know posts and nooo com-entz so your are definitely not bartificant intellgense.
So this is the big one that the rest of the world doesn't know about but seems normal to us: the Brits are the only country that only uses their left foot for propulsion on Shrove Tuesday. This is why British pancake flipping videos are peppered with misflips and they end up on the ceiling or floor. But it doesn't matter because the Brits change the 3 second rule on that day to a 30 second rule. Jesus protects them - but only them - from the germs.
misimalu@reddit
Putting milk in tea
Lover_of_Sprouts@reddit
India would like a word
misimalu@reddit
I thought with chai you boil both the milk and the water with the tea/spices? Rather than just add cold milk on the top after?
Aggravating-Fun9361@reddit
I’d say going for a walk, just to walk. Ie not on the way to the shops etc
weedywet@reddit
Sorry?
Volumetricform@reddit
Nah, Canadians do that, too.
Haunting_Cell_8876@reddit
Stashing grot mags in hedges.
rusty6899@reddit
Do people still do this? One of my biggest sources of shame is that although I would enjoy hedge grot in my youth, I never stashed any there as a young adult. Was I supposed to pay it forward?
Haunting_Cell_8876@reddit
Yeah! With all the online restrictions these days I try to stash grot mags in hedges at least once a week. As you say... Gotta pay it forward!
Far-Sir-825@reddit
Slating a service like a meal vehemently to your companions but smiling effusively and declaring everything to be magnificent and beyond reproach should you be asked how everything is.
corobo@reddit
tut
tadpole-bear@reddit
Plastic washing up bowls
Away_Calligrapher243@reddit
I always say pardon whenever I burp , no matter where I am or even if I am by myself. It’s just instinct.
Queeen0ftheHarpies@reddit
Not knowing how your country will be listed on drop-down selections
qualityvote2@reddit
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