Uniquely British things

[ChristmasA123]

I went for a walk earlier and saw one of my favourite things.. a random glove stuck on a railing. Obviously someone had dropped it and a kind stranger has put it somewhere easy to spot. I often see dropped items popped on fences/gateposts like this and it got me wondering.. I wonder if they do that in other countries? I've also noticed how polite drivers are here.. mainly! With that little wave or thumbs up when someone lets you through. I've never seen that driving in the US or Europe. Oh and I love the BBC Christmas ident. It's always so cosy. Are there any other cute/ wholesome things that only generally happen in the UK?

Sorry to say but scone really does rhyme with gone 🤣 Oh and jam first obvs.

@AtleastitsnotMonday - your post reminded me of the Japanese friend of my sister who told her mum English people love to put sweet beans on burned bread and call it lunch. (Beans on toast)

I once saw a huge Tesco articulated lorry with this message written down the side:

'No baguettes are left in this vehicle overnight'

😂

I was stuck in a queue in Dublin airport for 5hrs (chaos, flights cancelled and the queue was to rearrange flights)
Someone tried to push in. You could hear the gasps of outrage as he was told "the queue is 5hrs back THAT way"
Nobody was letting him in

The fact that ‘quite good’ can mean either excellent or rubbish depending entirely on the intonation of ‘quite’.

Brits are good at queuing but Japanese people will out queue any of you.

I'm one quarter Japanese and live in Japan now

Calling dinner supper?

Don’t forget the weird smile you have to do when they thank you for holding it - lips pressed together, just widen the corners slightly.

Insults. It's like innuits with snow. There are so many British ways to call someone an arsehole but with very subtle differences in meaning. It was the only good thing to come out of brexit - Brits slagging each other off on Twitter.

When we drive up to a Zebra crossing, reaching it easily before the pedestrian approaches, but stop to wait for them to cross.
The joy on their faces, followed by a wave and a quick trot across warms my heart 😊
Lived in southern Europe for decades and could count on one hand how many Drivers would stop to let you across one.
Not even mentioning the lack of Queuing anywhere 😕

Brexit

The fact that the same crusty bread roll can have so many different names.
cob
roll
barm cake
etc etc

Morris Dancing
There is definitely something quintessentially British about men flapping hankies around with bells strapped to their ankles.

I have more! The word cunt. It's both an insult and an endearment. I don't think there's anywhere else that the most controversial of swears has such a contrary meaning. I'd only say it when referring to either my worst enemy OR my best friend. And no one in between . That CUNT vs my CUNT!

And I agree with the term "quite" . Elsewhere it usually means very, here it can mean either very OR the opposite "it's quite nice" said in one intonation can mean- avoid it. It's not deadly but it's no one's first choice. But with another intonation can mean shock at its niceness! It's actually great! "Quite nice!" (Usually said with a vociferous side nod!) I love that.

Cockney rhyming slang

Pearly Kings and Queens

ha, you Brits come a distant second to us Irish when it comes to apologising.

Getting a bit drunk intentionally before going OUT out to give a metaphorical coat of warmth and fun.

I've only known British people do that!

What? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard about Australia. Have you forgotten how many people in Oz have British heritage? Of course we eat food like that on toast. I don't understand how you could experience that for a year. Were you living with people who hated carbs or something?

Class system. Can of worms!

The saying thank you to the driver is a thing in Australia too, and I thought it a charming Aussie custom. I couldn't think for moment why in the UK I'd never thanked a bus driver but always a coach driver. It's the prevalence of back-loading buses in London back in my pre-driving days, whereas you always passed the coach driver on the way out.

Also not getting the of Australians and X on toast. I'll test it and report back.

While I'm sure there are other countries that have a version of this I miss:

Public footpaths - so very few indeed in Australia, they love a good fence.
Canals - I get why this is the case, but still.

Our queuing is second to none.
Politeness.
Tutting is such a British thing.
The British sense of humour.
The word Cunt; we love it.

Larry the Downing Street cat.

Also the contrast between the White House (palatial) and no. 10 (looks like a two-up/two down). Once saw a load of photocopier paper being delivered to the 10 front door. So British.

•Scones with cream then jam or scones with jam then cream depending on whether you're from Devon or Cornwall (or have links to one of the counties).
•Saying "Cheers Drive" when you get off a bus. (In Bristol you can even get Cheers Drive t shirts).
• Saying "Fine!" when a waiter asks how your meal is, even if it's the most vile dish you've eaten.
• The Oxford and Cambridge boat race.
• Chasing a cheese down a steep hill to win a cheese.
• Uphelly aa.

Chasing a cheese to win a cheese 🤣
We see it as so normal. A bit quirky perhaps.
People in other countries must think we are nuts

The fact you can buy a Greggs swimming costume in Primark. In December.

Swimming in the freezing sea on New Year's Day.

Scones (short o) with jam first, then cream.