Brits Are Sharing The Funny Things That Set Them Apart, And These 60 Take The Cucumber Sandwiches

They share the same language, have similar shops, some historical ties and have more than a few surface-level similarities. Moving from America to Britain should seem like a breeze, right? Not quite. While the United Kingdom is just “across the pond” from the United States, the two may as well be worlds apart.

Let’s start with the language. Both the Americans and the British speak English. But many words are spelt totally differently. Their accents are also nothing alike. “You can hear it when I talk… I’m an Englishman in New York,” sang Sting once.

Words aside, an American could get lost in translation in Britain, even when nothing is said...

“American culture places a high value on openness, friendliness, and verbal clarity. By contrast, British communication tends to be more reserved and indirect,” says Robert Hallums, an American living in the U.K. “It’s common to express disagreement through understatement, and politeness can mask discomfort or disagreement rather than resolve it.”

He adds that this can be a tad confusing, especially when requests are phrased as suggestions, or praise is muted. "Americans may find themselves wondering whether an invitation is genuine or whether feedback is more critical than it seems," warns the expat.

Hallums' advice: read between the lines and listen for tone and context, not just words.

Then there's the issue of humor. British jokes can be easily missed if you're not from that side of the pond. Often delivered with a poker face, the fun jabs are dry and understated. Self-deprecation, sarcasm and “banter” are all par for the course, as is irony.

"We use it as liberally as prepositions in every day speech. We tease our friends. We use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. We avoid sincerity until it’s absolutely necessary," wrote Ricky Gervais. The British comedian has previously come under fire from people who he claims just don't get his sense of humor.

Gervais says Brits will mercilessly tease people they like or dislike. And they'll make fun of themselves. "This is very important. Our brashness and swagger is laden with equal portions of self-deprecation. This is our license to hand it out."

Hallums, who has firsthand experience warns that Americans may find themselves in a room where everyone is laughing except for them, simply because the cues are unfamiliar. He suggests not taking things too personally.

"If someone makes fun of you gently, it’s likely a sign of inclusion and affection, not mockery," explains the expat. "Responding with [humor], rather than defensiveness, helps bridge the gap."

The Brits are a funny bunch. While they have no problem poking fun at anyone and everyone under the sun, they're actually very polite. And be warned: they take their queues seriously.

"Skipping the line, even by accident, is frowned upon," cautions Hallums. And as one person on this list mentioned, even if you're the only human being around, you are still expected to form a queue.