To ask overseas folk what British quirks they think are weird/funny?

[Burntmybiscuits]

Us Brits are always on our high horse, making light humour over the habits of other countries (particularly the U.S!), so I thought it would be funny to see what people overseas find 'unique' about us!

An American friend used to take the mickey about brits saying yes to questions that don't need a yes/no answer before answering the question. Eg.
"How are you?"
"yeah, I'm good thanks."

Or saying "yeah, no" to things eg
"Are you sure everything is ok?"
"Yeah, no, I'm fine"

Easter eggs.
For Easter, children get hollow chocolate eggs that come with a mug, bowl and spoon or similar. What do children like? Crockery, apparently.

The windows opening out. I assume that has a practical reason like trying to prevent draught?

If my windows opened inwards it'd be constant game of 'duck'....(Not one I'd ever win after a disastrous French door incident)

People walking around half dressed as soon as theres a ray of sun.

I'm english but fing many of the English things weird. Washing machine in kitchen, washing up bowl, not rinsing, shoes , birthday cake, everyone going up bed so early

Where I come from all windows open inwards. So you can clean them every week and not have to get a window cleaner.

Actually it’s very weird not cleaning windows every week.

I also find weird using the same word for ‘small’ and ‘urine’ = wee.

Separate cold and hot taps in basins and sinks and not having a mixer tap and shower, although less common these days.

Washing up bowls and not rinsing.

Carpets everywhere. Washing machine in kitchen.

Large scale birtgday parties and celebrations for grown up, middle aged adults. I wouldn’t dream of celebrating my age, it’s not cute like children’s parties. Just have a few drinks with a couple of my really close girlfriends.

Having to spend the whole day with your guests on Christmas Day. In the continent you go for lunch around 1, have a drink, the 3 course lunch and then politely leave around 4 to leave your guests to clean up and rest for the rest of the day. It’s exhausting having to entertain people the whole day.

Oh and taking shoes in someone’s house, even if you stay in the living room area only. Makes dressing up for a dinner party impossible.

Come to think of it, not dressing up smarty for a dinner party is weird too.

Where does the washing machine go, if not in the kitchen? I lived in Italy for years, and the washing machine was in the kitchen there too.

Where I come from all windows open inwards. So you can clean them every week and not have to get a window cleaner.

That would be handy....difficult perhaps with the mounting black eyes and head wounds....but handy!

Theres no 'head injury' from inwards opening windows. As others have said they tilt open and turn open. So you leave them on tilt mode when walking around, and turn full open to clean. You don't leave them fully wide open in your hallway so you walk into them every 5 mins.

Washing machines here live either in bathrooms, small separate utility cupboards, or cellars. Depending on house/ flat, size and layout. Our washer and dryer live in the cupboard under the stairs.

I’m British and find shoes in the house gross, always rinse dishes as again, it’s gross not to. Always eat cake at a party too, I think it’s only ever cut up and put into napkins for kids party bags, right?

Theres no 'head injury' from inwards opening windows. As others have said they tilt open and turn open. So you leave them on tilt mode when walking around, and turn full open to clean. You don't leave them fully wide open in your hallway so you walk into them every 5 mins.

Your talking to someone who tried to walk through a French door...

Where does the washing machine go, if not in the kitchen?

In the bathroom - the room where you take off your clothes. Why would it be more logical to sort your dirty underwear next to where you cook?

In the bathroom - the room where you take off your clothes. Why would it be more logical to sort your dirty underwear next to where you cook?
But laundry is sorted in the bedroom - where you take off your clothes. And it’s logical to have a washing machine in the kitchen because it’s next to the garden where you hang it up to dry. Obviously a utility room downstairs would be better but most people don’t have space for that. Most wouldn’t have space for a washing machine in a bathroom either. If you’re in a flat, though, it might be different.

@Cassandrainthenight that's totally wrong. Amalgam is still widely used. There is discussion whether it's safe or not, and it has been banned in handful of countries, but that's about it There are EU directives about it from like 2017.
They are generally considered safe all around the world.

My American cousin (by marriage) was mystified but delighted at Christmas crackers, party poppers and paper crowns at Christmas dinner. It was only then that we realised that yes, those are weird things!

Our washer and dryer live in the cupboard under the stairs.
I REALLY hope It's nickname is Harry!

Yeah. Why ARE bathrooms actually that small in UK? Like REALLY small?🤔
It's not like houses elsewhere built 100+ years ago counted on having a washing machine in a bathroom

It’s a good thing that disgusting practices like carpet in the bathroom are largely a thing of the past. Shoes inside the house, that’s another gross one, especially when people walk all over carpet with their shoes. Makes me feel so uneasy when I see it on tv or someone doing it in their house. Simply gross.

I've just had the horrible realisation that Wetherspoons is basically the answer to cafe culture . With a very British twist...

We got crackers confiscated at the airport once for being explosive. Christmas ruined!

Have you ever observed the awkward British hug in international company? I work in a very international setting. When a Brit meets a bunch of international people, they happily kiss-kiss until they get to the one other Brit present. There's then an awkward pause while they both consider kiss/handshake/hug and tend to compromise with the awkward British hug. Even more awkward if they'd happily hug in the London office!

Wetherspoons is also an establishment to be boycotted... The carpet group is cool but i will never put a penny into that twat's pocket

Well I have to say that both DH and I are Brits. We always eat cake at our kids parties, we don't wear shoes inside (yuck!), we don't wallpaper our ceilings, always rinse the washing up (!!), don't drink alcohol for breakfast, don't own a washing up bowl, don't keep our washing machine in the kitchen.... not sure if our sandwiches are hilarious or not & expect that probably the whole planet makes unkind comments about Trump since he is a dangerous, racist moron 🤷🏼‍♀️
And now I also REALLY want some cake now!

*Omgnoplanesabovemenow.
"*Proper dogs" haha

Those of you who don’t keep a washing machine in the kitchen, and don’t have a utility room, how is it better to lug a load of heavy wet washing downstairs through the house to hang it up outside?

I wish there were still beer stained, food encrusted carpets in pubs and restaurants - now they are SoOO noisy.