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The UK and the USA may share a language (mostly) in common, but when it comes to a number of cultural customs, the Atlantic Ocean seems like the smallest thing separating them.

Whether it's their unique accent that somehow carries over into their typing, their obsession with tea, or the fact that they put baked beans on their toast, Brits certainly have a way of making those of us on the Western side of the world scratch our heads with confusion. That's not to say that Americans don't have quirks of their own, but here at Bored Panda, we think Great Britain deserves some special recognition this time around.

Check out the top British moments that left Americans completely stumped below, and be sure to vote for the ones that you're still trying to understand as well.

#1

American Vs British

tommowar Report

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

My nan came onto facetime while i was talking to my sister, chatted sortly and then said "I have to go, I can't drink my tea unless its scalding hot" Its July...

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#3

American Vs British

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didi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually quite useful: "biweekly" is confusing as some may consider that as twice a week or every 2 weeks. "Fortnightly" can only mean once every 2 weeks.

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#5

American Vs British

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E Menendez
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from the US and I have thought the same thing ( why do we call it math when it should be maths) and always assumed I was just overthinking. Then I learned that Brits use maths and now I feel less foolish. Also, I love eagle f****r. Laughed out loud on that.

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#7

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Us British can sneak up on you like a ninja in the night or even an iceberg in open water

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#8

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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loveandbones
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Translation: Friend it's hard to explain, it's just like one day you will be with your friends having a look in a sports shop (called JD) and you might fancy the curry offer that's on at the local pub (called Wetherspoons) but your friend Calum, who is a legend and awesome will be like "Guys let's go to Nando's (a resturant chain in the UK, cheap and good tasting food, hence it feeling a bit cheeky) instead." and you'll think "Great idea. Let's go for it."

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#9

American Vs British

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Teri Donovan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a wine lover who lives alone, I find this bloody brill. No more having to down the entire bottle alone or wasting what's left...

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Vicky Dudman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I saw this for the first time in the uk last week, at a service station...off the motorway..... the mind boggles

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Olga Novikova
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an American I find this magical; but i have low standards, so I have that going for me. ;)

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James Butcher
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is something I've seen in only two supermarkets 99% of stores do not do this in the uk

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Xmayze
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm English and have never seen this, except maybe on the train although it's normally a mini bottle of wine not a glass..

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Bobbi Newell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oregon, USA here. Our supermarkets are starting to carry wines by the (plastic) glass, but I started seeing juice box- type packaging several years ago!

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

That’s only in Stoke on Trent for all the alcoholics 🤣

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Daz M
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must be a London thing, we can afford bottles of wine in the North

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Daz M
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a northerner i find this bizarre, it must be a London thing as there can't afford a whole bottle down there

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Chris Frankland
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perfectly understandable. But not in Stoke on Trent. There, it comes in Royal Doulton

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Jeanne Brennan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I didn't know there was something that could make boxed wine look upscale, yet here we have it!

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Sophie Talia
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think that's just in m&s which is more of a high end supermarket than a convenience store

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Lesley Wood
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don’t know if M&S would like to be called as ‘convenience store”

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Tim Duenkel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are a few places where you can do this in America. Usually at large venues, stadiums, and such.

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SiYuan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to have a plastic wineglass that could be separated into two places so I could take it camping. Unfortunately it was quite a large glass, got drunk on the wine I drank from it, and lost it's lower half.

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Manohar Mohan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wondering why they haven't stopped doing this already, since it must offend the Muslims..

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Miguel Angel Irisson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Mexican man i wish for some day to buy tequila shots. not the entire bottle

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ethel
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they have those in ameriaca just only in the fun parts

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Chiemi Honda
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw man, japan sells sake by the glass cup in a vending machine! We need to step it up!

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Daniel Marsh
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Although, in America, they sell it in a plastic-lined package very similar to a juicebox, but with a screw-cap, so you don't need to poke the box with a straw.

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Cherie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this and similar in the liquor stores here locally... It can't be that common, tho.

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Susann Campbell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As an American of the US. I can only visualize the driving after lunch. Thank goodness you have transportation for these day drinkers.

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Jocelyn King
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not Weird at all, we buy wine by the plastic glass in Canada at any liquor store

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Marie-Louise Chenois
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a belgian, close to France i find it bizarre aswell but also i see it's filled way to the top, so i'm pretty sure that 99.9% of the time when you open it you get half of it all around..

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Ančí Sachetka
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in Czech republic we have shots of strong cheap alcoholic drinks :D it is bizzare for me aswell :D

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Sebastian Sarabia
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plastic??? im Chilean and even cheap wine here comes in a glass bottle, and really really cheap wine, the kind that you could name "i don't care what im drinking but ill regret it tomorrow" comes in a tetra pak box...

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Michèle Gyselinck
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice. In Québec you can buy white wine in the refrigerator at the liquor board. In Ontario you can't because people are not allowed to drink booze on the street.

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Megan H
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

O_O Two thoughts: 1) that can't be even passingly drinkable wine, and 2) "Absolutely Fabulous" makes even more sense now.

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Uno. playero
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, we have faceded glass and vodka inside, instead wineglass and wine :-) Nice difference......

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Coralie Gerard
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nooo whyyy? What did that poor wine do to you ? (anyway wine in a plastic anything tastes gross)

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M O'Connell
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually this makes sense. Many establishments don't have a license to sell spirits by the glass (which would make them a 'bar' and subject to more stringent regulations. In my area, we have "Package Goods" establishments, where there isn't anything on tap, and you have to buy an entire bottle, or case of alcohol. They are classified as liquor stores, and not bars. This unique packaging would allow them to continue to sell package-goods, but at a more reasonable volume.

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Ruth Baker
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've lived in the UK for 50 years and I've never seen this. We buy bottles of wine (and some people, who drink a lot, buy boxes)

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Vanessa Parkinson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We might be able to buy this but I never have and can't think I would.

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Noeleen Trueman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

um...I just lost my toothpick...unfuckingbelievable ..wine?? plastic?? I would prefer to neck it !!

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Chastin Dreyer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

get that here as well (SA) although I can never understand why one would want a glass when you can get the bottle and for a few rand's more at that

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Jane Bateman
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a member of the British public, I have never seen this before.

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Heather Brown
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in England and I have never in my life seen this... 😂

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Amanda Charaba
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can get this in the states as well! Plus we get it in Juice boxes now too lol

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Sardonic Scribe
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a Canadian I find it incredibly odd that you can buy ANY kind of booze in the same place you buy slurpees and s****y nachos.

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Etienne Pisano
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very comfortable ... but do you pay for the wine or the glass? :-)

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Gina Gregory
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

prob cheap s**t wine that was fermented for a day. lol grape juice

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James Butcher
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is actually rare if only seen this in two supermarkets, those being Mark's and Spencers and Waitrose 99% of the other shops do not do this!

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Margaret Minton
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never seen this in the shops in England and I buy wind every week

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Brontosonto
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the european countries there are "half-bottles" (bottle containing 3/8 of a litre = 37.5 cl = 12.68 fl oz) and "quarters of a bottle" (bottle containing 3/16 of a litre = 18,75 cl = 6.34 fl oz), being the "bottle" 3/4 of a litre (75 cl = 25.36 fl oz). Always glass bottles, of course.

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Mylah Rose
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, they're for picnics, or events etc when people are not alcoholics and don't want a whole bottle of wine...

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Mylah Rose
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not a convenience store! Lol. It's Marks and Spencer's.

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Nadine
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see these in a lot of stores. The concept was on Shark Tank, the America version of Dragons Den. They are supposed to be for picnics. I guess. And sold at events and concerts.

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Nicola Morley
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can now buy wine by the plastic glass in cinemas and some soft play areas. We're through the looking glass people !!

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Delta Hill
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, if you only want a glass, why not buy a stubby of wine? Or are these only available in Australia? Wine-596d5...1e4e0c.jpg Wine-596d53a1e4e0c.jpg

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#10

American Vs British

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Xmayze
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone told me a lot of Americans don't even own a kettle, I'm slightly scared to ask if that's true....?

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#12

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

snorlaxatives Report

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Claire Kidd
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is that so weird to Americans? You know what I find weird? That Americans make everything sickly sweet and have an unhealthy relationship with Maple Syrup. On bacon? Really people?

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#13

American Vs British

MasterDrank Report

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Steve
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Pulp" is a band. "Juicy bits" are simply juicy and awesome. I'm ok with this one :D

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#14

American Vs British

keelahtequila Report

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TC
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose people in the USA get a compulsory tip because the don't earn enough from their employers and have to life on their clients charity...?

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#16

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Fire Bird
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you youtube Anglophenia she explains why there are two taps. They didnt want the hot water being contaminated by the cold water as they had seperate tanks. This was back in the day, they just do it now as nostalgia thing.

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#18

American Vs British

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Nicola Morley
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And you thought us Brits were straight laced and uppity. Mr Blobby is proof, do not mess with the Brits if you don't want the nightmares Freddy Kruger gets when sick.

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#20

American Vs British

flomation Report

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didi
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Due to the common market trade agreements, there was something of a campaign a while back for food terminology in Europe: They basically wanted all British chocolate renaming as chocolate candy because it wasn't pure enough by their standards (too much milk fat and sugar, not enough cocoa).

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#23

American Vs British

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Brigitte
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually all over Europe it's pretty common to have your washing machine in the kitchen. If the bathroom is too small and there is no extra room, where else would you put it? Also in some apartments the water/drain pipes for washing machines are installed in the kitchen only, so you really have no other choice.

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#24

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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ispeak catanese
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We've been watching Vera, The Loch, Unforgotten, Happy Valley, Scott & Bailey & Shetland and have added so many great new insults and idioms to our speech! It's fun yelling k******d and calling each other cow. I think I have developed a Scottish, Yorkshire, Puerto Rican accent.

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#26

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Ninshi TheImp
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That reminds me of something I read. In germany the waterworks have to perpare for the breaks during important football games.

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#29

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Daria B
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes sense, but.... I'm sure U.S.A. doesn't have the same accent in each state, just like the U.K. accents vary by countries and regions. Even in one single city of London you can differentiate between particular accents depending on the part of the city, no? Sorry, I'm an overthinker. *shrug*

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#30

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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#33

American Vs British

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Steve
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it saves on plug-ware. I save pounds every year on not having to replace plugs for my sink.

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#34

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so... you know those little plastic packs that hot dogs come in have a salty liquid in them, right? They're not vacuum sealed in there all dry.

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#35

American Vs British

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Hans
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

faith sadly did not understand the concept of an egg cup. They are for boiled eggs, which are then eaten with a spoon.

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#36

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Claire Kidd
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, Americans have this weird view of the British. In their TV shows EVERY British person either speaks in a really posh voice or is a cockney. WE DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!

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#38

American Vs British

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Steve
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Celebrating the day King James I survived what was essentially a terrorist plot to blow up the House of Lords. Interestingly we celebrate by blowing stuff up whilst freezing our collective backsides off and waving sparklers about.

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#39

American Vs British

brokeymcpoverty Report

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Ines Äffchen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when I first moved to the UK and switched on the TV I learned that this is a show about people who have some complaint that's "too embarrassing to show your doctor". But yeah, let's ALL have a look at that on national TV, why not.

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#41

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

obvz Report

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John Doe
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6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

exactly, that's just what you say!! or may be "past midnight" as well

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#43

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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Neil Adams
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's correctly pronounced 'aitch', without the aspirant. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/aitch

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#44

American Vs British

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Cynthia McDonald
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is my favorite TV show. I have NO CLUE what 90% of the things they are baking actually are -- never heard of them, never seen them. But the intensity with which they bake them is riveting!

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