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The UK and the USA may share a language (mostly) in common, but when it comes to a number of cultural customs, the Atlantic Ocean seems like the smallest thing separating them.

Whether it's their unique accent that somehow carries over into their typing, their obsession with tea, or the fact that they put baked beans on their toast, Brits certainly have a way of making those of us on the Western side of the world scratch our heads with confusion. That's not to say that Americans don't have quirks of their own, but here at Bored Panda, we think Great Britain deserves some special recognition this time around.

Check out the top British moments that left Americans completely stumped below, and be sure to vote for the ones that you're still trying to understand as well.

#1

American Vs British

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Lauren Southwood
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My nan came onto facetime while i was talking to my sister, chatted sortly and then said "I have to go, I can't drink my tea unless its scalding hot" Its July...

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#3

American Vs British

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didi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually quite useful: "biweekly" is confusing as some may consider that as twice a week or every 2 weeks. "Fortnightly" can only mean once every 2 weeks.

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#5

American Vs British

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E Menendez
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from the US and I have thought the same thing ( why do we call it math when it should be maths) and always assumed I was just overthinking. Then I learned that Brits use maths and now I feel less foolish. Also, I love eagle f****r. Laughed out loud on that.

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#7

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Us British can sneak up on you like a ninja in the night or even an iceberg in open water

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#8

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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loveandbones
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Translation: Friend it's hard to explain, it's just like one day you will be with your friends having a look in a sports shop (called JD) and you might fancy the curry offer that's on at the local pub (called Wetherspoons) but your friend Calum, who is a legend and awesome will be like "Guys let's go to Nando's (a resturant chain in the UK, cheap and good tasting food, hence it feeling a bit cheeky) instead." and you'll think "Great idea. Let's go for it."

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#10

American Vs British

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Xmayze
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone told me a lot of Americans don't even own a kettle, I'm slightly scared to ask if that's true....?

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#12

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Claire Kidd
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is that so weird to Americans? You know what I find weird? That Americans make everything sickly sweet and have an unhealthy relationship with Maple Syrup. On bacon? Really people?

Master Markus
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HEY! That's us Canadians that like maple syrup. A lot of the time Americans seem to have the fake corn-syrup stuff.

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Tara Ray
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bacon and maple syrup are a CANADIAN thing. Guzzling booze and cheese is American...

Stuart Beatty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm Australian. I find it weird that anyone would find beans on toast weird. But cream in coffee? THAT'S weird! Don't you have milk?

ispeak catanese
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Get it right, it's not really cream from a cow, it's factory produced franken-cream. It stays out of the fridge in those little plastic cups. It's artificially flavored and repulsive.

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Yioryos Ninjitsu
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What I find really weird is how someone that comes from a country where they "deep fry" chocolate and martinis can find anything food related odd. You guys have actual fairs that you deep fry coke, butter or even beer......but yeah some bread and beans is totally the weird one :P

Kirstin M
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You take that back! Our state fairs are sacred. I don't get in board with fried butter or beverages- but deep fried Oreos are fanatastic with ice cream.

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Anna Ashley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all Americans Are ok with all the sugar in food it's just hard To find food without tons of sugar without paying loads of money

Trish Bradley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's usually as a light meal like lunch or supper, you really need to try it before you knock it!

Sasy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Baked Beans on toast, not just beans on toast, much like you would eat a bowl of chilli with a biscuit (biscuit for Americans is like Yorkshire Pud in the UK, they keep likening it to scones, but scones are for cream and jam)

Leni
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because biscuits are also sort of sweet and LOOK like scones and have a similar density and flavor. Yorkshire pudding is really different, even tho you eat it w a savory dish.

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Allana Rose
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beans on toast seems reasonable to me. You need to have something to scoop all those beans onto for a good bite, so why not beans on toast?

Shari H
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never heard of beans on toast before, but I think, my fellow Americans, that we have been calling the wrong thing s**t on a shingle.

Joanna Huang
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm American, and I don't like how all my relatives think that Americans all eat cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and beef or salad for dinner. Everyone is different. Heck, I love bread with mayo and rousong. Delicious.

CultOfBambi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm British and I find beans on toast (or chaviar, as it's sometimes known) utterly repulsive!

Marcy Moffett
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Texas we eat beans on tortillas... unless we're out of tortillas & we use bread lol

Karen Grace
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, my American family Loves beans on bread, toasted or not. The two go good together.

John Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stack a couple of slices of bread on a plate, ladle some beans over them (Great Northerns or limas, never baked beans), add a little ketchup or Tabasco and a dash of salt and pepper. I loved that when I was a kid.

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Dena O'Hare
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering what kind of beans? I've heard of this and didn't think it was a thing. also I think I'm the only American who don't like bacon LOL

Stuart Beatty
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Both these comments are OTT. But beans on toast is totally normal. In Australia as well. No added sugar.

didi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what Americans would think about pot noodle sandwiches.

Sophia Gentile
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh god. Canada and Britain have teamed up. I live in the US. We do put too much sugar in things. However we actually smile some in our lifetimes unlike the British so... (Canada’s nice buts it’s too cold.)

WhiteFox
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah and in australia we also sometimes have baked beans on toast

Janet Katz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Boston, land of Boston baked beans, my mother said they used to eat beans on toast long ago.

David Heald II
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ok, I’m American, and ate beans on toast before finding out it was some sort of British thing. It just sounded good.

Lois Pack
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We also put, scrambled eggs, melted cheese,and many other things on toast, toast is very versatile.

Martin Forbes
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Spray on cheese really confused the hell outta me, however, 'Merica we love you.

Yasmin Janette
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beans on toast is good for a lunch meal, especially with grated cheese on top

Pat
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from Ohio USA. I love beans on toast especially with weinies. Put a slice of Colby cheese on the toast 1st, then the beans so cheese melts. Yummy.

Cheryl Birkhimer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, & it's really yummy! Not weird @ all. Americans pile their plates combining savory & sweets on the same plate. Is that weird...? Also Brits eat their salads along with the meal. Not just as a starter course.

Kim Chapman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nearly every day i have beans on toast for breakfast, with cheese on, and sometimes some hot sauce too

Kellie Panda
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Australians eat baked beans on toast with melted cheese on top

Carter Lawrie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in Australia we eat beans on toast, baked beans of course not green beans...

Louise Brigance
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love beans and I love bread, but I've never had beans ON bread. Especially when the beans look like canned pork & beans. Why not kidney beans, or pinto beans, or red beans or white beans? There has to be a historical connection somewhere.

Leni
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Canned pork and beans? The british baked beans is like beans in tomato sauce. I always thought they were white beans but maybe I'm wrong about that, colour isn't easy to tell in that sauce lol

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Christina Waide
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in the American South and we eat banana sandwiches with peanut butter. Some people (to my horrror) even use mayo instead of PB.

Karen Singrey
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The very famous Elvis Presley ate banana & peanut butter sandwiches. I love them!

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Ian Mooney
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Says the americans who put gravy on "biscuits" that are really "scones"........

Cherie
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find the American version of scones to be a disappointing, over-sweetened mockery of the English deal. Years ago I had a scone and cream at a cafe (now long-closed, sadly) located in the basement of a church in Bristol. Subtle and delicious. Spoiled me forever.

Chris Fambrough
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Peanuts are a legume... We eat beans on toast, too, for f***s sake. I hate my country sometimes.

Elizabeth Molloy
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually maple syrup & bacon is an awesome combination, but we have it with pancakes (US/Scotch ones), fried eggs and ... yes ... baked beans - brilliant breakfast!

Marc Proudfoot
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would be a meal everywhere except bread and beans have so much goddamned sugar in them in the US that it would be like a dessert. Seriously... unles you can find an overpriced can of Heinz, every single can of beans I've seen in a grocery store contains brown sugar!

Leni
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sugar is a normal additive in can stored goods. It lengthens the time the goods remain edible. If you want your beans without the cheapest way is to get dried (let them sit in water over night). Table sugar is lower on the GI (around 62) than bread (around 70 on average, even for whole meal bread, up to 95 for french bread). It REALLY doesn't need added sugar. Never got why Americans did that >.>

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#13

American Vs British

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Steve
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7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Pulp" is a band. "Juicy bits" are simply juicy and awesome. I'm ok with this one :D

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#14

American Vs British

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TC
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose people in the USA get a compulsory tip because the don't earn enough from their employers and have to life on their clients charity...?

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#16

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Fire Bird
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you youtube Anglophenia she explains why there are two taps. They didnt want the hot water being contaminated by the cold water as they had seperate tanks. This was back in the day, they just do it now as nostalgia thing.

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#18

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you thought us Brits were straight laced and uppity. Mr Blobby is proof, do not mess with the Brits if you don't want the nightmares Freddy Kruger gets when sick.

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#20

American Vs British

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didi
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Due to the common market trade agreements, there was something of a campaign a while back for food terminology in Europe: They basically wanted all British chocolate renaming as chocolate candy because it wasn't pure enough by their standards (too much milk fat and sugar, not enough cocoa).

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#23

American Vs British

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Brigitte
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually all over Europe it's pretty common to have your washing machine in the kitchen. If the bathroom is too small and there is no extra room, where else would you put it? Also in some apartments the water/drain pipes for washing machines are installed in the kitchen only, so you really have no other choice.

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#24

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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ispeak catanese
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We've been watching Vera, The Loch, Unforgotten, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey & Shetland and have added so many great new insults and idioms to our speech! It's fun yelling k******d and calling each other cow. I think I have developed a Scottish, Yorkshire, Puerto Rican accent.

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#26

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Ninshi TheImp
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That reminds me of something I read. In germany the waterworks have to perpare for the breaks during important football games.

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#29

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Daria B
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes sense, but.... I'm sure U.S.A. doesn't have the same accent in each state, just like the U.K. accents vary by countries and regions. Even in one single city of London you can differentiate between particular accents depending on the part of the city, no? Sorry, I'm an overthinker. *shrug*

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#30

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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#33

American Vs British

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Steve
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it saves on plug-ware. I save pounds every year on not having to replace plugs for my sink.

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#34

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so... you know those little plastic packs that hot dogs come in have a salty liquid in them, right? They're not vacuum sealed in there all dry.

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#35

American Vs British

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Hans
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

faith sadly did not understand the concept of an egg cup. They are for boiled eggs, which are then eaten with a spoon.

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#36

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Claire Kidd
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, Americans have this weird view of the British. In their TV shows EVERY British person either speaks in a really posh voice or is a cockney. WE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!

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#38

American Vs British

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Steve
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Celebrating the day King James I survived what was essentially a terrorist plot to blow up the House of Lords. Interestingly we celebrate by blowing stuff up whilst freezing our collective backsides off and waving sparklers about.

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#39

American Vs British

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Ines Äffchen
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when I first moved to the UK and switched on the TV I learned that this is a show about people who have some complaint that's "too embarrassing to show your doctor". But yeah, let's ALL have a look at that on national TV, why not.

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#41

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

obvz Report

#43

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Neil Adams
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's correctly pronounced 'aitch', without the aspirant. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/aitch

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#44

American Vs British

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is my favorite TV show. I have NO CLUE what 90% of the things they are baking actually are -- never heard of them, never seen them. But the intensity with which they bake them is riveting!

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