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Sarcasm is a prevalent trait in British humor. It often pokes fun at the absurdity of life, some of which may come across as mildly insulting. Usually expressed through light banter and comical insults, it is generally relatable enough to draw some laughs. 

Here are some screenshots of posts as examples. These are from the British Tweets Facebook page, a collection of jokes, dry wit, and puns that hit home for people in the UK. But even if you’re not from that side of the world, you may nonetheless find amusement in these. 

Enjoy scrolling through!

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    American humor is likely more familiar to many, thanks to Hollywood and sitcoms. To better understand British humor, famed comedian Ricky Gervais wrote an article in Time Magazine in 2011. 

    One observation he pointed out was that Americans are more reserved in their use of irony, while fellow Brits “use it liberally as prepositions in everyday speech.” 

    “We tease our friends. We use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. We avoid sincerity until it’s absolutely necessary,” Gervais wrote.

    #5

    Close-up of a perfectly toasted bread slice captioned with a witty British humor tweet.

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    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    i think an award ceremony for the best toasts of the year we can call it the toasties the award will be a golden toaster with toast sticking out the top

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    Gervais is best known for his character, David Brent, in The Office, a mockumentary about corporate life. An American version of the sitcom starring Steve Carrell was later released. 

    Regarding the dry nature of British humor, Gervais admits that it’s not for everybody. He describes it as “play fighting,” which is a “sign of affection” for someone you like and an “ego bursting” for someone you dislike.

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    Gervais says British comedy’s offensive and slightly abrasive nature is more about speaking the truth. He never purposely attacks anyone with his comedy but always says what he means. 

    “Be honest. No one should ever be offended by the truth. That way, you’ll never have to apologize,” he wrote.

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    However, some experts believe there is no such thing as a British sense of humor. For University of Salford lecturer in performance and comedy Dr. Ian Wilkie, comedy is always open to interpretation and counterexamples you can’t pin down. 

    In an interview with the BBC, he described the process as “like trying to nail jelly to a wall.”

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    #14

    Tweet about forgetting a toastie machine, showcasing British humor.

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    Robert Trebor
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have toasties quite often, The machine is ridiculously easy to use, and ridiculously easy to clean. Unlike most of my small appliances.

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    Gervais echoes a similar statement: all comedy is the same regardless of where you come from. But for him, it’s more of an “intellectual pursuit” where his objective is not to dumb down his audience. 

    “As a comedian, I think my job isn’t just to make people laugh but also make them think,” he stated. “Not everyone will like what I say or find it funny. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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    #20

    Tweet displaying trademark British humor about people bragging about not having sugar in tea or coffee.

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    Meagan Glaser
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    if you smoke a cigarette with it you are legally required to become a detective

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    B Hobbs
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dad drank his coffee black, mom put milk and sugar in hers. Dad would occasionally comment about mom 'poisoning' her coffee. Mom would mutter something about 'it's not my coffee that's being poisoned'. Married some 40 years.

    Mohsie Supposie
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have only half a teaspoon and I am really proud of it! Nothing wrong with some self encouragement!

    Nea
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yea thats fine but some people are relly condescending to others who like theirs sweet :(

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    Emma S
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And then joke "no thanks, I'm sweet enough" 🙄🤣

    Oskar vanZandt
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I drink my coffee black... Only put a teaspoon of honey in regular tea if have a cold.

    Debbie
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Especially when I drink it black, so if I offer some and they want milk and sugar.. Do I have milk? Is it still good? Where is my sugar? And oh they'll need spoons to stir and a spoon to scoop the sugar!

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    RU Sirius
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't have it for so many years that my pride has weathered away long ago

    Lene
    Community Member
    6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah.. I like my tea raw and brutal.... sorta like my metal. Lol.

    Gustav Gallifrey
    Community Member
    6 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Milk in tea and instant coffee. No milk in brewed coffee. Sugar with everything.

    OneHappyPuppy
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't get it? I drink black coffee but I'll get a mocha or cappuccino once in a while when I'm feeling fancy

    Gwyn
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can't stand milk or sugar in my tea. Very watered down sweet milk? No thanks

    Reviewer01
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find a bit of an opposite thing, where people who take milk and sugar are so proud of how strong and dark they like their coffee. It's easy to like a cup of tarmac when you sweeten it! And anyway, who made the strength of a cup of coffee into a macho competition?

    Nosirrow
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. Sugar ruins the taste. Plus, I drink coffee with milk and you can really taste milk's natural sweetness.

    Michelle C
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Milk, yes. Sugar, no- barring sweet tea. Coffee as is is too acidic for me, unfortunately!

    Cpt. Christan "Panda Bombero"
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Heathens and Barbarians they are. Trust me, Army and Fire Station Coffee/Tea requires both. If not sugar, then honey.

    PatriciaB
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "no thank you I'm sweet enough" it's wasn't funny the first time Debbie

    Joe Reaves
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sugar in tea is horrid. Sugar in coffee is to make terrible coffee palatable.

    The Scout
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you do take your coffee with milk and / or sugar, you do not really like coffee - nor do you deserve it.

    Sue User
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Dutch use koffie verkeerd for coffee with milk. Verkeerd means wrong.

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like my coffee like I like my women, hot and black. My wife nearly killed me when I said that.

    Iampenny
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I don't mind when my husband says that, but then again, I am black (well, half)

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    Hans Georg
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Milk. I use milk instead of sugar. But I drink only Earl Grey.

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    #29

    Tweet joking about UK vs USA drinking competition, showcasing British humor.

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    Denise Aitchison
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You're including the Irish, Scot's, and Welsh? I 100% think you're right. We did start as a land for Puritans.

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    #30

    Tweet showcasing British humor about checking takeaways before buying a house.

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    HeavyMetalHeart
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Our house was newly built when we moved in and it was two years before any delivery places acknowledged we existed and would accept our order!

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    #34

    Tweet showcasing British humor with a funny plane conversation between a mother and a passenger.

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    Nizumi
    Community Member
    1 week ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Being overly literal (meaning: this is a joke), I have to point out it depends on where your flight's heading. ;) If you're flying in to a major hub like Paris or Munich, you might be connecting to go somewhere else. But it you're on a Ryan Air heading for Malaga, then fair to laugh at your mum. :)

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    #38

    Tweet about Crocs being versatile footwear in various settings, exemplifying trademark British humor.

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    Robert Trebor
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have 4 pairs. My feet swell and recede like the tide. Crocs are the answer. Shies make my feet unhappy, and I want happy feet.

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    #40

    Tweet showcasing British humor about the awkwardness of takeaway delivery.

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    Hannah
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sometimes I hang a measuring tape around my neck and have a pencil behind my ear. That way they will know I was BUSY. My sewing machine broke around four months ago...

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    #47

    Tweet showcasing British humor about landlords keeping deposits over minor issues.

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    Pittsburgh rare
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some people just don't pay the last month before moving because they know they're not getting the deposit back no matter how pristine the apartment is. Not saying you should do that but also not saying you shouldn't.

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    #50

    Tweet showcasing British humor with a clever persuasion about sharing pizza costs on a train.

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    Mohsie Supposie
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Typical salesman technique! Only works if you are actually going to make that pizza last for a whole year!

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    #53

    Funny-British-Tweets

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    Verena
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Five weeks plus some extra days, all paid leave - there are emloyees on this planet silently weeping now.

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    #56

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    Pandemonium
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Your football supporters have amazing voices. I'm always impressed with the call and response and creativity of the lyrics. Must be the school assemblies then.

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    #57

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    Owen
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely not just you. I have found the perfect flat, because it's next to a Tesco express. They have all my money now.

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    #59

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    Fat Harry (Oi / You)
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw a man follow a woman through the grocery section of Tesco shouting "OH NOT BLOODY POK CHOI AGAIN! IT'S SO BLOODY BLAND!" and that is the most middle class thing I've ever seen in Tesco. I did once see a small child say "Mummy, can we get some Quinoa please?" but that was Waitrose, so expected.

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    #65

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    justagirl
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    yes. and...does anyone else just think, "oh it's fine, i have time tomorrow!" and then scramble to do whatever you were supposed to do at 1 a.m?

    #67

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    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, pay day - the day you pay your bills and then work out what is left and what your daily budget is.

    #70

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    Darryl Martin
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I imagine that this is just the latest in a long list of things he put somewhere that someone moved without telling him that it had been moved. I find it incredibly frustrating too. Just let him know where you moved it to.

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    #73

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    Rachael green
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I was 14 years old and I worked at a chippy for 2.75 per hour I got to go home with a bag of chips, a kebab and an arm full of burns. Still felt like a good deal 😂

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    #81

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    James016
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did you ever notice on gameshows like Bullseye than if the contestants won the big prize it was some home appliance like a new fridge but if they lost, the show wheeled out a speedboat saying that this is what they would have won.

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    #83

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    Rachel Parker
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Never. It goes, like this: - I’m a kid and I partly believe this stuff and partly it’s fun. Adult, I’m busy I can’t think about changing my habits. Middle Age, I’m tired and I hate everybody and saying hello to a magpie is one c***k in the misery. Old, I don’t give a s**t, I’ll say hello to whoever I blinking want.

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