Brits and Americans are like siblings with a bit of a rivalry.
We have a lot in common because we’re related, but we secretly harbour a bit of resentment and confusion towards one another because of our differences. Neither side is right or wrong for how we live, really, but people from the U.S. will always take umbrage with some common practices those of us here in the UK follow. Here are some of the things they just can’t get on board with (and for the record, these are all pretty silly, but totally true).
1. Queuing for everything without complaint
This tends to come up a lot (to an annoyingly cliche point, actually), but that’s because it’s one of the most basic forms of order that holds this country slightly together—ha! Whether it’s waiting for a bus or queuing outside a pub, Brits instinctively form an orderly line without anyone needing to ask or organise it.
Americans, on the other hand, tend to have a slightly looser relationship with lining up, especially when crowds or chaos take over. The idea of quietly accepting your place and waiting without fuss still feels almost alien across the pond.
2. Putting the kettle on for literally every situation
Got good news? Put the kettle on. Got bad news? Kettle. Feeling bored, sad, happy, hungry, or confused? Definitely kettle. The British response to pretty much anything life throws at us starts with boiling water.
In America, while coffee makers are common, the emotional relationship with a hot drink just isn’t the same. Boiling water for tea doesn’t carry the same comforting, ritualistic meaning, and honestly, that’s something you have to grow up with to fully understand.
3. Using sarcasm as a default communication style
British humour leans heavily on sarcasm, understatement, and dry wit. It’s often hard to tell whether we’re being serious or taking the mickey, and that’s exactly how we like it. In America, communication tends to be more direct and sincere. Sarcasm can be seen as confusing, passive-aggressive, or even rude, so the very British art of saying the opposite of what you mean is often completely lost.
4. Apologising constantly, even when it’s not your fault
We say “sorry” when someone else bumps into us, when we need to ask a question, or even just when we make eye contact. It’s almost a reflex more than a real apology. We’re obviously not carrying around loads of remorse and regret over minor, pointless things, but this habit is engrained in us.
Americans apologise too, but not with the same frequency or instinct. The idea of apologising for simply existing in someone’s way doesn’t fit into the typically more assertive American style of interaction.
5. Sunday roasts being a non-negotiable weekly event
In Britain, Sunday isn’t Sunday without a roast. We’re talking meat, potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, and endless gravy, ideally shared with family at home or down the local pub. It’s basically a religion. Americans have Sunday family meals too, but there’s nothing quite like the structured, traditional Sunday roast (and loads of Americans forgo this tradition altogether). It’s a ritual that’s fiercely protected over here, though, and many Americans visiting the UK are baffled by how seriously it’s taken.
6. Public displays of extreme politeness
Brits are famously polite, even when we’re annoyed. (Well, most of us are, anyway.) We’ll mutter “excuse me” while squeezing past you, apologise profusely for needing help, and thank you three times during a single transaction. Americans are friendly, sure, but their style is often more casual and less obsessed with politeness-for-politeness’s-sake. To many Americans, the British level of courtesy seems charming, but also hilariously unnecessary at times.
7. Talking about the weather like it’s a national sport
Here, discussing the weather is practically mandatory small talk. Rain, sun, clouds, or even a mild breeze can fuel full conversations with strangers, neighbours, and coworkers alike without anyone finding it weird. Americans do talk about weather, especially during extreme seasons, but it doesn’t dominate daily chatter the way it does in Britain. Most Americans would be baffled by how much mileage we get out of a passing cloud.
8. Having two taps—one for hot water, one for cold
Many British sinks still feature two separate taps: one scalding hot, one freezing cold. It’s a relic of older plumbing systems, but it’s strangely still found in plenty of homes and pubs today. Mixer taps are a thing, of course, but many of us are still chugging along with the old-fashioned type.
Americans are used to mixing hot and cold effortlessly through a single tap. Trying to wash your hands under two taps feels like a minor exercise in survival skills, and most Americans aren’t sure why it’s still a thing.
9. Driving on the left side of the road
For us (and many other countries around the world), driving on the left is second nature. It’s just how the system works. Roundabouts, left-hand lanes, and right-side driver’s seats all feel perfectly normal once you’re used to them. For Americans, it’s pure chaos. Driving on the left feels wildly counterintuitive, and adjusting to it can feel like learning to walk backwards. It’s one British custom most Americans find terrifying rather than charming.
10. Using the word “cheers” for almost everything
In Britain, “cheers” isn’t just for clinking glasses. It’s used to say thank you, goodbye, good luck, and even just as a casual acknowledgement. It’s versatile, friendly, and completely baked into daily life. Americans, though, tend to reserve “cheers” for toasts at parties or weddings. Hearing it casually at a till or in a quick conversation can throw them off, even though it’s one of the most harmless Britishisms out there.
