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What’s totally acceptable and completely normal in one country might get you some funny looks elsewhere. Or, in other words, welcome to Planet Earth where there are loads of different countries and cultures that are bound to blow your mind when you travel.

This time, we’re looking at the differences between the United States and the United Kingdom. Even though both countries have a ‘special relationship’ (not to mention a rocky initial history together), far from everything is the same there. Hopping ‘over the pond’ means traveling a large distance both physically and culturally, too. Like you'd expect when going to any new country when you fly abroad.

Redditor TownImmediate9060 went on r/AskReddit and wanted to find out what’s socially acceptable in the US but would be horrifying in the UK. The thread went viral and the responses made us seriously realize the extent of the differences between the two allies. Check out some of the best answers below and remember to upvote your fave ones, dear Pandas.

#2

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Paying more than the price you see on a price tag in a shop due to taxes. WTF just put how much it costs!

gibsterminator , Akshay Chauhan Report

#3

Cashiers being forced to stand... give them a chair you masochists

andy_james_78 Report

Britain continues to use soft power to spread its influence abroad. Its cultural impact is off the charts. Just consider how influential the Harry Potter books, musicians like Ed Sheeran, and football entities like the Premier League really are.

They’re known and respected globally. As such, the UK’s able to draw in plenty of tourists (global pandemic notwithstanding because it’s hit everyone badly) and students from abroad because it remains at the forefront of people’s minds.

#4

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Politicians mentioning religion when campaigning

awbayley97 , wikipedia Report

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

Religion should have no room in politics anywhere. (But for positive values such as grace of charity.)

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#5

New mothers going back to work almost immediately after giving birth, because they don’t have paid maternity leave

MultipleDinosaurs Report

#6

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK An $800, four-block ambulance ride.

jeff_the_nurse , REEET JANK Report

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Downunderdude
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything about the so-called American health system is a mystery to the rest of the world.

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However, research shows that the confusion and uncertainty around the long-term effects that Brexit, the UK’s exit from the European Union, will have slightly dampened the country’s influence abroad.

Meanwhile, the British Council found that it’s actually culture, not politics, that deepens the ties between the UK and the US. And it’s culture that’s going to play a vital role in the future of both nations as well.

#7

That whole thing where American kids pledge their allegiance to the flag. That is completely weird and scarily totalitarian to us Brits.

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#8

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Overworking. It's rewarded and encouraged in the U.S., but during my time in the U.K. my colleagues were horrified by the long hours and lack of holidays that was the norm in the U.S.

CuriousAboutLife0 , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

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

What an awful soulless place. And I'm guessing the only reason they give them what looks like expensive chairs is so they don't get sued for workplace injury.

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#9

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Greeters in supermarkets. Just feels fake.

smokingthegateway , Kristina Paparo Report

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

Are greeters real? I thought the Simpson's was exaggerating. I guess in a country so massive, you gta find a way to stand out? Still seems weird tho

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“Culture and history were the two top rated factors contributing to the UK’s attractiveness among American respondents, with 43% identifying ‘cultural and historic attractions’ as a major draw and 42% identifying ‘history,’” the British Council explains what it discovered in its research.

#10

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Driving everywhere.

In the UK it's perfectly normal to have your kid walk to school and walking to the shops to do your shopping.

X0AN , why kei Report

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

This varies in the US too. In most cities it's normal not to have a car, but not in places where most people don't live within walking distance to anything.

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#11

Offering full-time employees anything less than 28 days of paid holidays per year - it's not only socially unacceptable - it's illegal!

RandGenUserName Report

#12

Bragging about how expensive something was.

In the US "this is a $100 shirt" ...smug face

In the UK "can you believe I got this whole suit for £25!" ...smug face

NCC-2000-A Report

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Despite some of the more superficial cultural differences between the US and the UK, both nations appear to care about pretty much the same issues.

“The research showed a high degree of shared concern about global issues among young people in both countries with poverty, extremism/terrorism, and climate change as the top factors chosen by young people in both the US and UK,” the British Council found. “The research suggests the relationship between the two countries is at root a cultural as much as a political phenomenon, and viewed in those terms it is indeed special.”

#13

Labelling the winner of a sports tournament that only your country plays as ‘World Champions’

Calling Football ‘Soccer’

DM1994 Report

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Paul Davis
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're not the only ones doing that. No one seems to blink at the audacity of the Miss Universe beauty contest, where Earth seems to win every time.

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#14

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK A rubber in England is not the same as a rubber in the US.

Butwaip , Annie Spratt Report

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

In the UK, a durex is (or used to be) a condom. In Australia, it's sticky tape. Best not to get them confused.

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#15

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Gaps in bathroom stalls

8xxx5 , ttarasiuk Report

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Ironically, the actual term ‘special relationship’ sees very little use in the US, primarily being a British way of categorizing the tight bonds between the two nations. However, this doesn’t change the fact that both countries are very much skipping along arm-in-arm, primarily admiring each other’s cultural output (leaving politics a secondary concern).

#16

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Making tea in a microwave.

fantsukissa , MoneyBlogNewz Report

#17

When my Brit friends were visiting, they were horrified when the waiter took their credit card to swipe back at the terminal. This made them REALLY uncomfortable.

cn45 Report

#18

Cutting lines for things, I’ve seen some people when going to Disney world trying to cut lines for random reasons. Queueing in the uk is like our national sport

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Redditor TownImmediate9060’s thread about the differences between the US and the UK was a roaring success. It got more than 67.7k upvotes in just over a week. What’s more, the thread got over 51k comments which just goes to show that the OP hit the nail on the head and chose a niche topic that plenty of folks were interested in.

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The thread also got over 300 awards, proving that TownImmediate9060’s fellow Reddit users really appreciated them asking the question in the first place.

#19

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK My (British) partner & I (American) were in London, running late to meet our friends. Just as we get to the tube station, I see our train has just pulled in; we haul ass across platform and I yell, “HOLD THE DOOR.” Someone does, we make the train, I don’t see a problem. My partner, by contrast, is mortified. This was 4-5 years ago & he is still mortified. Apparently we were meant to just...let the train leave? Without us?? & wait for the next one???

Ok-Cryptographer8906 , Chris Yang Report

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

On the tube, there's absolutely no reason to "hold the door". The next one will be in in a few minutes, and you will just be a little late. By holding, everyone on the train will be late, and there is actually a possibility that it travels down the line, delaying several trains.

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#20

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Asking new neighbors, "Have you found a church yet?"

boganvegan , Cosmic Timetraveler Report

#21

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Huge portion sizes. Kids meal in U.S is like a adult meal in U.K.

Revolutionary_Ad5901 , Ashley Green Report

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What’s your opinion about the relationship between the US and the UK, dear Readers? What, in your opinion, makes this relationship between the two special? What do you think are the main cultural differences between Americans and Brits? Let us know what you think in the comment section below. We’d absolutely love to get your take on this, especially if you’re currently living in the US or the UK.

#22

I was in Japan once and there was a vending machine selling beer outside my hotel room.

So, being British, I bought a can and went to the elevator where I shared an excruciating couple of minutes with two American business men. They were horrified at my early day drinking, and I at their willingness to express this.

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

What's particularly wrong with day drinking? I mean, night won't reduce your drunkenness

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#23

As a Brit in the US, this is a fun one!

Pharmaceutical adverts on the TV are still weird af to me

The length and frequency of commercial breaks in general on TV is shocking

Low hanging fruit, but anything relating to child beauty pageants just makes me feel physically sick

Here's a nice one: taking 20+ minutes to help a complete stranger who is struggling with something. The amount of times a total stranger has stopped to assist me or someone I know? Y'all really make my heart melt!

Toxic_Orange_DM Report

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A Cat Named Dragon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happens in the UK too. I am a woman and I traveled by train with a suitcase too heavy for me to lift and always some lovely man immediately assisted me with getting on and off.

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#25

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Addressing a stranger as ‘Sir’

UnsaddledZigadenus , Wikipedia Report

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To me, this sounds like a good style. How would you address a stranger in the UK?

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#26

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Responding to work emails while on leave/vacation.

rekharai Report

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

I fear this one may be culturally appropriated - I'm in the UK and have worked for people who have done this, and been "encouraged" to do this myself. I have offered once (but that was because it was a big, serious project, and my time off was looking after the MIL's house for two days and I was BORED!)

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#27

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK high fructose corn syrup

itssteveninnit Report

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

What else should we do with all this corn we grow? Feed the world? Bio-fuel these machines? Nope. Lets make something like sugar, but way worse for you.

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#28

Chanting the acronym of your country at any given opportunity.

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#29

I don’t know how common it actually is there, but going fucking wild at the cinema during a hugely popular film like Avengers: Endgame or a Star Wars film. There’s a bunch of videos on YouTube of the audience reactions to various big franchise films and I don’t know how anybody lasts more than a few minutes in that room.

When I saw The Force Awakens, like two people half-heartedly cheered when the title screen came up and then someone immediately told them to shut up.

pinksoetko Report

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

While talking about american cinemas, why don't they have seat reservation? In Sweden, we book in advance, choosing our seats by how many we are, where the screen is and availability.

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#30

Refuse a drink to a grown-ass taxpaying 20 year old

Chapelirl Report

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

I can legally buy a gun and hold a hunting license, I can legally get married, vote, make medical decisions, have a mortgage and go to an adult prison for legal infringements but cant enjoy a cold beer on a Saturday afternoon.

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#31

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Telling me how much the tip is going to be.

dumbdoogy , Sam Dan Truong Report

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

Tipping as the only chance for some people to make a living is the issue!

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#32

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Not wanting to call for an ambulance if hurt

EdgeofaBlade998 , Diana Polekhina Report

#33

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Anything taking over an hour to get to being a "short trip"

Drakeskulled_Reaper , Flemming Fuchs Report

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

When I was in the Navy and we were going to England I had a chief tell me "the difference between US and UK is that in the US 200 years is a long time, and in the UK 200 miles is a long distance"

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#34

Chatting with a stranger on the street. I do it all the time. My best friend is English. It horrifies him.

I said “how do you meet new people, like to date?”

“Oh, we get positively trashed in a pub and then it can happen.”

crestonfunk Report

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A Cat Named Dragon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an American, I first learned this on Bored Panda! That Americans are the only people who talk to strangers. I thought that people talk to strangers in every country that I’ve ever been in. It’s only now that I think back and wonder if it was really only just me engaging strangers in other countries in conversations and them humoring me by politely talking back?

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#35

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Chatting casually at the lift.

Maleficent_Chance , Steven Ley Report

#36

Not pronouncing the 'h' in 'herbs'.

Blandiblub Report

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A Cat Named Dragon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the extra “I” in aluminium : ) and I heard a new one recently that I am not sure about. Americans pronounce “router” to rhyme with “outer” but I recently heard someone on the Beeb say it rhyming with “scooter” Is that how it is said in British English? I couldn’t even focus on the rest of the story because I kept thinking... “ did he say rooter?”

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#37

Not horrifying but pausing a show or event to ask members of the military to stand up for an applause would be weird over here.

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troufaki13
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Τhey create wars on the other side of the world, send people over there to kill and be killed and then welcome them back as heroes who defended their country...

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#38

The fake enthusiasm that everyone knows is fake but everyone buys into and plays along with.

I'm Irish but work for a company that has a very large UK client and a very large US client and I don't really see that fake enthusiasm coming from the Brits. You might get the odd person but everyone will just think they're a wanker where as with the yanks it's on a whole other level. Gets pretty dry when absolutely everything is "awesome".

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#39

Talking so loud that everyone within 100 meters can hear what you are saying.

Whooping. Just don't Chad, you aren't on a bucka-roo now.

Listing your positive qualities like you are in a job interview, but in a normal conversation. You must only speak ill of yourself.

penelope-bruz Report

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

When I went to Venice, which seemed to have an awful lot of loud American tourists, listening to their conversations in restaurants was our entertainment. I would call it eavesdropping, but they were so loud it was impossible not to hear.

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#40

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Americans will ask 'How ya doing?' but not really expect an answer.

thefirstdetective , Victor He Report

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A Cat Named Dragon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean this goes both ways though. In UK countryside, they ask “Are you all right?” And I’m always taken aback like, “shouldn’t I be?”

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#41

Naming your child Randy.

British people ITT: wait, people don't really name their child Randy, do they?

Americans: what's wrong with Randy?

AmigoDelDiabla Report

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James016
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can google these but they are real names: Randy Bender and Willie Stroker. ;) Yes I'm being a child.

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#42

As I found out is done in another thread the other day "eating sandwiches without butter on the bread" being from the UK this horrifies me.

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#43

Coming from the perspective of a British guy, your style of customer service. Not universally, but very commonly, it’s way too over the top for us.

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

The US knows how to do customer service properly. Sure, it may be a little over the top at times, but it's better than being treated like s**t by some teenager who's more interested in their phone or gossip with their colleagues, when all you want to do is give then money!

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#44

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK I’ve learned from my British friends that you have to be very careful giving peace signs. If you have your hand facing a certain way, it’s like a “f**k you” in the UK basically, whereas in the US it doesn’t matter which way it’s facing really. Several years ago I sent them a picture with me doing an “incorrect” peace sign and they were appalled

ETA: The offensive version is where your palm is facing inwards

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

If my memory serves me correctly, the origin of the two-fingered f**k you was this. In the middle ages, English archers were much feared by enemies for their deadly accuracy. When English archers were captured, the French used to cut off their two bow string fingers. In battles, English archers (who hadn't been captured) would stick up their two fingers at the opposing French forces to show they still had them.

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#45

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK When somebody says you should come to their house sometime, actually going by their house sometime.

Overall_Dependent_43 , Milan Popovic Report

#46

Asking for a tour of their house. *SHUDDERS*

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#47

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Saying “hello” when you pass people.

Interesting_Shock788 , Jacek Dylag Report

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

Why not? You can tell if someone is open to a smile or "hi", by looking at them. Well through trial and error you can XD

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#49

strangers asking "where" not if you go to church.

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A Cat Named Dragon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this common in the US? I have lived here my whole life and I don’t know that anyone has ever asked me that.

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#50

When someone says, 'make yourself at home' actually making yourself at home

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les
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was meeting a friend at his house one day, but when i got there he was still in the shower. His mum was just heading out and said to make myself at home, so I rearranged her living room to how mine was. My friend was horrified but his mum couldn't stop laughing when she got back

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#51

A lot of ice in drinks. My grandfather visited Ireland and asked for ice in his drink. He said the people at the restaurant were confused and gave him two ice cubes.

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#52

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK "Bum bag", not "fanny pack".

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#53

Saying someone has a lot of spunk

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#54

Talking about money. It's a bad habit of our never to discuss wages.

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#55

Looking around someone's house and complimenting things

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

Being polite to someone is nonsense to the UK sounds like........

Aria Whitaker
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is SO odd...to see things we were taught to do for politeness; smiling, compliments, being perky and speaking to our fellow citizens ...being condemned?

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

"You have a lovely home, I love this picture!" "WHAT?!? How rude! Get out!"

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

I used to be enamored of Brits, now I think they all are a bunch of sourpusses.

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

Is this person wandering around? That would be weird. If they are seated and glancing around the room and happen to see some thing that strikes them as especially pretty or unusual you'd take offense if they complimented it?

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