Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back

Sometimes all it takes is a second to guess where a person is from, be it their looks, their accent, their behavior, or something else that gives it away. Often affected by customs, cultural norms, or widespread behaviors, they tend to do things they might not even realize are representative of their home; but for people around them, they are pretty clear telltale signs.

Redditor u/Frosty-Ad3575 recently turned to the ‘Ask Reddit’ community, seeking to learn what things people consider obvious signs that someone is American. Netizens’ answers covered everything from the way people stand to how they greet each other, among other things, so scroll down to find them and see what might give away that a person comes from the United States.

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back MM-DD-YYYY date format.

Cuish , Leeloo Thefirst / Pexels Report

Final score:

120points

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Cee 10 months ago

Thank you!! It should always be Day-Month-Year. It’s the 2nd of January, 2024

72points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Claiming to be of a certain nationality (e.g. Irish), but can't even locate the eponymous country on a map.

DanteWrath , Ingo Joseph / Pexels Report

Final score:

114points

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Meilin Kai 10 months ago

Ok, I concede on this one, too. Our bad.

31points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They'll use any form of measurement other than metric. Freedoms per eagle is a popular one.

CottageLife1 , Steve Johnson / Pexels Report

Final score:

114points

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Red Panda 10 months ago

Freedoms per eagle?? 😂😂 As an American, I would be so confused yet intrigued if someone really used this like a form of measurement earnestly.

65points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They assume everyone knows about american geography, politics, news etc. but they know nothing about any other country.

gadzoots , Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels Report

Final score:

112points

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Nina 10 months ago

Ok, the US is a pretty large country, but there are other large countries that have citizens more aware of what's going on globally.

20points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Aggressively white teeth.

orthostasisasis , Gus Ruballo / Unsplash Report

Final score:

108points

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Jan Srbený 10 months ago

I still can't decide whether I find it weird or disgusting

28points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Referring to 'Europe' as if it were a country.

sweetpapisanchez , Danielle Rice / Unsplash Report

Final score:

99points

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago

Well, in our defense, America isn't a country either.

83points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I'm Canadian and the biggest giveaway to me that someone is American is simply in their spelling. For example, we would spell it "the colour grey", and Americans would spell it "the color gray." We use paycheque instead of paycheck, and neighbour instead of neighbor. Our vernacular is very British.

Current-Tree770 , Christina Morillo / Pexels Report

Final score:

99points

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Random Jackass 10 months ago

The bald eagles told us the U's were superfluous, so we just ran with it.

80points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Talking about the extortionate cost of healthcare and the struggles of navigating the health insurance system.

Creative_Recover , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

97points

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Cyber Returns 10 months ago

The tax alternative to pay for national health care is not only cheaper but also means you can't get ripped off by insurance companies for the same level of care. It also stops pharmaceutical companies from price gouging

9points

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back When asked where they’re from. They instantly say the state not the country.

Plutiduti , John Diez / Pexels Report

Final score:

90points

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

67points

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#10

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back When I lived in Estonia, a local once told me that if anybody smiled and said hello unsolicited on the street they knew “that person was either drunk, crazy or an American.”
I laughed and said, “In this case, it might be all three!”

nightowl1135 , Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels Report

Final score:

84points

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Kylie 10 months ago

Another thing Aussies do as well as Americans.

44points

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#11

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Not to be rude or offensive as I am American and this, but we are fat.

radizorit , Towfiqu barbhuiya / Pexels Report

Final score:

82points

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Trillian 10 months ago

It's the food. I have been skinny all my life, except the one year I lived in the States I gained almost 10 kg. Lost them without any effort within weeks back home. There is sugar in effing everything, even in bread.

23points

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#12

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Anything under 4 hours is “close by”.

jayhitter:

Everything is Europe is around the corner if you're from the US. I can drive the whole day and not leave my state but in Europe I can pass through 4 countries in that same time frame.

grey-canary , Hassan OUAJBIR / Pexels Report

Final score:

80points

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WindySwede 10 months ago

Me thinking in Swedish 🤔 maybe 4h across, but not lengthwise.. Then 23h by car

22points

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#13

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back As an American man, I’ve been told repeatedly by European and Asian friends that we simply take up space (not by being fat) as though we’re entitled to it. Men in other countries apparently don’t claim the same personal space we do.

Potomacan , Luke van Zyl / Unsplash Report

Final score:

76points

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arthbach 10 months ago

"Men in other countries apparently don't claim the same personal space we do." Let me fix that for you, " We encroach on the personal space of others, claiming it for ourselves."

6points

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#14

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They talk loud. Very loud.

onowhid , Keira Burton / Pexels Report

Final score:

75points

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Kylie 10 months ago

Tbh I find certain other nationalities talk a LOT louder than Americans.

73points

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#15

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Apparently the CIA trains American agents to not lean on things if they go undercover in foreign countries because Americans lean on anything they can while standing around.

clown1998 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Final score:

73points

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Kylie 10 months ago

So do Aussies.

33points

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#16

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Shorts and running shoes.

thoda26 , MART PRODUCTION / Pexels Report

Final score:

68points

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René Sauer 10 months ago

And where is the problem if they are comfortable with it?

20points

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#17

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I was in Germany this past summer and I realized smiling at everyone you make eye contact with is very American. When I went to London on the same trip they seemed less weirded out by it but would awkwardly return the smile.

I was taught to always start with a disarming smile. Never realized it was American.

12ozFitz , Daniel Xavier / Pexels Report

Final score:

67points

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TCW Sam Vimes 10 months ago

The casual openess and friendliness of US citizens is one of the positive traits we could learn something from

74points

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#18

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Immediately asking someone what they do for a living when meeting them. Our jobs and work are our entire identity.

bealzu , Sora Shimazaki / pexels Report

Final score:

66points

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WindySwede 10 months ago

prob not to uncommon here to!?

7points

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#19

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back To me - it is the habit of choosing convenience over all else (note that my observations are mostly of people who consider themselves middle class). Small example - if you need to wipe down your kitchen counter, Americans always reach for a paper product while back in India, it would always be a cloth towel. Reason for Indians to use cloth - it is reusable and hence, economical. Americans using paper - it is more convenient. Transport - wait a half hour extra for train or drive... the Americans in my group always chose to drive and the Europeans and Asians chose public transit. Lunch at work - most Americans in my group but lunch every day, even if it is a simple deli sandwich. Most non- Americans bring homemade lunches. Now I don't make value judgement about how people spend their money but the way they gravitate towards convenience first and only then consider finances, environmental impact, etc.

gigibuffoon , Nick Clement / Unsplash Report

Final score:

66points

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Bernd Herbert 10 months ago (edited)

If you are from Europe and have spent some time in the US you will make that observation. Drive-through for everything, even for banks, was very weird to me. (To be fair, lots of American cities and places have s****y Public Transportation to begin with. Often enough the car is the only alternative)

57points

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#20

At least in Finland, I find them as quite friendly, easy to get with and genuine. They aren't afraid to ask questions if it is not clear to them and say the things that matter. Of course shoes, laughter and the way they carry themselves without thinking much about what others would say.

Visible-Field2311 Report

Final score:

57points

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Shannon Hawks 10 months ago

That's cos Finland is one of the best places to live with great people also

26points

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#21

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back In the touristy cafe-restaurant I worked at:

1. If they asked me for the nicest spot we had
2. If they asked me my recommendation without seeing the menu first
3. I would walk to the table, and they would say right away "hey how are you doing?". This one threw me off a lot at first. Why is this person asking me how I'm doing?? I'm just there to take the order. I got used to it, and I think they found my awkwardness to it cute.
4. They would ask my name when I greeted them and took their order

NB I'm Northern European

Muc_99 , On Shot / Pexels Report

Final score:

53points

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Cynthia Wilson 10 months ago

Here in Portugal everyone is greeted with "Bom dia! Tudo bem," basically "Hello! How are things?" I find that Americans do not do it as often.

15points

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#22

Americans outside America will often claim that people are Scottish-ing or Italian-ing wrong because their great great great grandfather came from Scotland/Italy.

I have been corrected on my Scottishness by an American who claimed direct descent from a famous Scot who had no children.

On the other hand I also find Americans to be incredibly open and friendly and kind and generous.

US tourists seems to be of two opposite types.

Magnus_40 Report

Final score:

52points

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The Doom Song 10 months ago

I was born in Scotland, and I grew up in Australia. I like to refer to myself as Australian coz I've been here my whole life.

24points

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#23

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I was told, "Americans carry water bottles around like they're worried they'll never have access to clean water ever again."

kosher_dill_33 , Bluewater Sweden / Unsplash Report

Final score:

50points

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JJ 10 months ago

That's not American, just clever and environment friendly. I wish there were drinking fountains in Germany, too. You don't even get tap water in a restaurant, usually just an option for bottled water.

57points

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#24

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They typically only speak 1 language.

growthepie , Alexander Suhorucov / Pexels Report

Final score:

49points

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Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 10 months ago

So do most Brits.

79points

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#25

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back I’m half Italian and my biggest pet peeve with American culture is Americans are averse to walking

Inb4 “American cities aren’t walkable”. That’s true to a point, but Americans a big country. There are still walkable places and even in the instance where something is, people prefer to drive. I used to walk 30 minutes to class from home and people thought I was crazy.

I also used to be an Uber driver. Many people I picked up were college students that didn’t want to make the 10-15 minute walk from the off campus dorms. I’ve had friends ask to drive to places that are only 10 minute walks. It’s kind of pathetic.

BandoTheBear , Paweł L. / pexels Report

Final score:

49points

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Lame Llama 10 months ago

Once again depends on Where's they are from. My friends from NYC are still not big on driving after living in Europe for years.

27points

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#26

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back They cut their food, then switch the fork to their right hand and put the left under the table while eating.

XL shirt on an average guy (6 ft 172 lbs / 1.82m 78 kg) also trousers with enough room for another person.

CrinchNflinch , Tim Mossholder / Unsplash Report

Final score:

40points

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Owen 10 months ago

When I was 7, my best friend was from the US (We were in the UK), and I never could get over the fork thingy. Like... use both hands?

21points

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#27

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Making casual conversation with random strangers.

DeathSpiral321 , Andres Ayrton / Pexels Report

Final score:

38points

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Kylie 10 months ago

I don't think that's a national trait tbh, more of a personal one.

23points

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#28

Good taste in music, intolerance of monarchy, and near cult-like worship of pizza.

t20six Report

Final score:

37points

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago

Sure you aren't talking about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

80points

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#29

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Expecting to drive to everything.

TerranceBaggz , Tobi / Pexels Report

Final score:

35points

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WindySwede 10 months ago

well, without sidewalks, bike lanes and the strange zoning laws this is just the common thing?

27points

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#30

Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back Baseball cap... even on an infant riding in a pram.

SyntheticOne , Oleksandr P / Pexels Report

Final score:

33points

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The Doom Song 10 months ago

Here in Australia plenty of people wear baseball caps. It's not an American thing guys

56points

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What do you think ?

Emma S 10 months ago (edited)

Stop attacking Americans. It's not funny anymore and has gone past a joke into blantant xenophobia. Yes, there are people there who act entitled and lack understanding of other cultures, but those people exist in every country in the world. I'm British and can confirm they certainly exist here as well. Some British people still act very entitled in Europe. I saw people getting upset at Schipol airport because they had to wait in the bigger queue when going through immigration like they didn't vote for it.

42points

Tams21 10 months ago

I totally agree, BP is starting to cross an ugly line with with these constant articles about the US.

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Lady Miss Pie Premium 10 months ago

Thank you—I’m American but almost none of these apply to me or my family. I hate these articles. There are many highly educated bilingual soft spoken Americans who don’t take ice in their drinks. *sigh*

8points

Sewanee Citizen 10 months ago

One way to balance things out a bit would be an article on "how to spot a colonial"...

5points

Sojourner 3 weeks ago

This is what I mean.

0points

Megan Johnson 9 months ago

I feel you 100% on that. But this didn't seem insulting to me. (Granted, I didn't make it to the end) All cultures are different. I thought the "leaning on things" one was funny! I had never realized I do that but it's true.

Eliza Osenbaugh-Stewart 10 months ago

Most of these seem neutral or positive about Americans. There is nothing negative about noticing cultural differences. I did find a couple rather judgey but they were in the minority.

DB 10 months ago

First anti-American post of 2024. Thanks BP. What took you so long?

34points

MaximumKarmaSaint 10 months ago

3 days? That's a new record for BP!

sofacushionfort 10 months ago

Thank you, all non-USA pandas who respond to these articles with nuance, reason and actual empirical knowledge of the topic

LokisLilButterknife 10 months ago

I'm originally from the United Kingdom and I find listicles like this just flat out cruel. I actually just wrote a note to BoredPanda letting them know that they are alienating their reader base and ruining the integrity of this site with cruel listicles like this. They'll probably never read it though because they couldn't care less about their readers.

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Someone Asks “What’s An Obvious Sign That Someone Is American?” And 30 People Don’t Hold Back

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