ADVERTISEMENT

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

Add photo comments
POST
livelaughloveloz avatar
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...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

American Vs British

a-thousand-words Report

Add photo comments
POST
davinasmart-lautrey avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

American Vs British

brigwife Report

Add photo comments
POST
straney-elizabeth avatar
E Menendez
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#7

American Vs British

supremequeenofthenerds Report

Add photo comments
POST
nicola_morrisen avatar
Nicola Morley
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

claudiaboleyn Report

Add photo comments
POST
loveandbones avatar
loveandbones
Community Member
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."

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#10

American Vs British

grincham-n-larry Report

Add photo comments
POST
rachaelrandall_1 avatar
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....?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#12

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

snorlaxatives Report

Add photo comments
POST
clairekidd avatar
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?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

American Vs British

MasterDrank Report

Add photo comments
POST
stevehall222000 avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

American Vs British

keelahtequila Report

Add photo comments
POST
antonicabre avatar
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...?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

DestinyDreadful Report

Add photo comments
POST
firebird_1 avatar
Fire Bird
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

American Vs British

emmybeezyk Report

Add photo comments
POST
nicola_morrisen avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

American Vs British

flomation Report

Add photo comments
POST
davinasmart-lautrey avatar
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).

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#23

American Vs British

broderick Report

Add photo comments
POST
jesse-b avatar
Brigitte
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

worldsenough Report

Add photo comments
POST
ispeakcatanese avatar
ispeak catanese
Community Member
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

freetobegrace Report

Add photo comments
POST
ninshi_theimp avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

tyleroakley Report

Add photo comments
POST
dariab_1 avatar
Daria B
Community Member
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*

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

obeyknowles Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

American Vs British

beyoneeche Report

Add photo comments
POST
stevehall222000 avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

seavaynay Report

Add photo comments
POST
cmcd1070 avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

American Vs British

CrossRdsCollins Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
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.

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

It's because they are hot and they roll around the plate.... this holds them upright so you can eat them properly and dip bread in the yolk

zoebeleinw avatar
Kristi Zoebelein
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the confusion here comes from the US not eating a lot of soft-boiled eggs like that. It used to be common here, I have some vintage egg cups. But I don't know anyone who eats soft-boiled eggs, ick.

Load More Replies...
manowce avatar
manowce
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

egg cups are used to serve eggs in a fancy way, not to store them in the fridge.

copper-fractions avatar
Tiny Dynamine
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This doesn't help dispel the myth that most Americans are imbeciles.

wanda_queen avatar
Wanda Queen
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Egg cups used to be more common here (US), my great grandmother used them regularly.

markpenrice avatar
Mark Penrice
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

/facepalm They don't have any concept of dippy eggs. The poor bastards.

mosquito_repellent avatar
bigfatwombat avatar
BamesJond
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Europe they are, in North America they aren't because there eggs are expired sooner due to a anti-salmonella treatment or something.

Load More Replies...
melayahm avatar
Caroline Driver
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guess they've never had the delicious taste of runny boiled eggs with toast soldiers dipped in them. Most of us have eaten them all our lives and never had salmonella from them. Cold, hard boiled eggs are for picnics

danni_jaye avatar
Danny Jeffery
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then the dozy bloke below somehow thought that egg cups go in the fridge?! HAhahahaa!

allanarose1996 avatar
Allana Rose
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they are a great idea, tho I never eat my eggs this way. I like them on a piece of toast so the runny bits soak up into the bread.

heather-kegler avatar
Heather Kegler
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Egg cups are still used for soft-boiled eggs. Americans rarely cook them that way, though. Scrambled, omelets, fried, hard-boiled, and poached (my fave) are the primary choices.

teri_3 avatar
Teri Donovan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You realize that generalizing is mostly wrong. Many, MANY Americans enjoy soft boiled eggs. In fact, now I'm hungry and I'm going to go make some!

Load More Replies...
coffeekelsy avatar
Kelsy Wilson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

americans are so terrified of even the remote possibility of samonella that most of us dont even know what soft boiled eggs are. american boiled eggs are always firm all the way through and are primarily used as a mush for various mayonayseee salad contraptions.

teri_3 avatar
Teri Donovan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"american boiled eggs are always firm all the way through" There's that pesky generalization again. WRONG.

Load More Replies...
ahmad_alsaffar avatar
crabcrab avatar
wwsp8 avatar
Whitney Speight-Carlin
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American here, I've never actually used one to eat an egg, but I've bought quite a few for my mom who collects them.

wwsp8 avatar
Whitney Speight-Carlin
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please forgive me, but I don't understand what you guys are talking about when you say the soldiers?

docpoiz avatar
Agathe May
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dont know who s right here but "keeping" is clearly in the fridge ^^ wrong words choice... and the eggs cup are used only for "oeuf a la coque" which means that the yellow is still liquid somehow (in france we use bread to eat them, others country use spoon or poched directly on the food). You dont need egg cup for hard boiled eggs, the main way to eat them in UK.

loispack avatar
Lois Pack
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the egg tray in the fridge, those are for cooked eggs.

delmar2380 avatar
BlakCircleGirl
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My grandmother used to soft boil us eggs and then break them open in a mug. Mix it up with some salt and pepper. Maybe it's more of a Latin thing than a US thing. I'm not a fan of runny egg anymore though.

laurachann avatar
mesmereyes60 avatar
Annie Dennis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Canada and the USA, the eggs you buy in a grocery store are already refrigerated. They have also been washed before being put in the cartons and shipped to the stores. Because of this, eggs need to continue to be kept refrigerated. Now, if you're talking about freshly-gathered eggs from your henhouse, then you can store them without refrigeration.

Load More Replies...
yasmin_janette avatar
Yasmin Janette
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Egg cups are not for egg storage, they are used when the egg is boiled and is ready to eat. we also have egg cartons for storage.

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

Wait... Americans don't have soft boiled eggs?? Where is the joy in their lives?? :O

kanna172014 avatar
Shannon McKee
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen people use them for soft-boiled eggs but most Americans prefer hard-boiled.

edwardreedbristol avatar
Darryl Kerrigan
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do yanks seriously not have egg cups? How do they dip their soldiers?

stuart_482 avatar
Stuart Olson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually we like having dippy eggs. Its just that we do them fried in a pan "over easy". Bit of an art to get it right.

cheryl_birkhimer avatar
Cheryl Birkhimer
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Doesn't the pics showing the eggs cracked open, yellow, cooked yolk give any clue? These are ready to be eaten, not stored. Where are the toast soldiers?

jamowo1282 avatar
Flower Waheed
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd say that they're a bit impractical because plates and containers do the same thing. The only use for this, that I can see is possibly holding the egg in place while you're eating it

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

dumb or dumber? probably also doesn't know where eggs "come from"

ayane_ph avatar
Jackie Francisco-Cruz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish we also have egg cups here in the PHL so that when I try eat a hard boiled egg it doesn't roll off the table when you want to put it down for a while. These egg cups also makes your table setting look vey civilized like "look! I don't have to eat a hard boiled egg with my hands because I have cup (egg cup) to hold it with!

bridiewilkinson2 avatar
Bridie Wilkinson
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What the f**k!!!!!! Who has informed you of this s**t? They're for boiled eggs not to store eggs.

danni_jaye avatar
Danny Jeffery
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is this one blithering about? The English INVENTED egg ups! LOLOL! XD

em_1 avatar
Martina Třešková
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't get this. They do have eggcups. I've lived in Britain for five years and every household I was in had them O.o Not for "keeping" the eggs in them, obviously, and they don't do soft boiled eggs very often (which I don't get, they're the best!), but they do have it. I am totally baffled with the idea that someone puts hard boiled eggs in it, though. Why? O.o Hard boiled eggs can be easily peeled, chopped, sliced onto something, eaten as whole with hands etc.. The cup is to hold the soft boiled egg that is eaten by spoon, why would you need it for the hard boiled one?

mesmereyes60 avatar
Annie Dennis
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, it used to be where if you ordered eggs in the shell (soft OR hard boiled) in a restaurant or in the hospital, they would arrive in a larger egg cup than pictured, and it was made of clear thick glass. This larger egg cup looks something like an upside-down goblet. The goblet end was on the bottom, against a plate, and covered your second egg, somewhat keeping it warm while you ate your first egg, which was served in the small end. In fact, these particular egg cups could double as goblets, and twice I've seen them in antique stores being sold as goblets. At the one store, I corrected the staff on what the items really were. At the other, the staff were occupied, and I didn't have time to wait.

Load More Replies...
emiwolfplayz avatar
Emiwolfplayz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm. These cups are for eating like a dish... So not everyone is eating a meat oit of a box BRUH

glittercandies avatar
Colleen Levac
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not a British thing. I've always use a cute little cup for my boiled egg

sgakaz avatar
Karen Cromarty
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is confusing do they mean storage or eating boiled eggs because we do have egg cups used for eating boiled eggs as for storage we have egg holders for the fridge but we don't need to keep our eggs in the fridge unlike the US 61w7M1FVou...57e2ba.jpg 61w7M1FVouL_SL1500_-596cdbd57e2ba.jpg

shopgirl_ny2010 avatar
Kelly
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So he did not know how you use them. I do use egg cups for my breakfast.

janet-burnett88 avatar
Wyndmere
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We don't use egg cups, cause we don't eat runny, boiled eggs with a spoon. -- Yuk!

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

Soft-boiled eggs are yuck. I don't even like fried eggs with runny yolks.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

jokebud Report

Add photo comments
POST
clairekidd avatar
Claire Kidd
Community Member
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!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

American Vs British

britishjoe Report

Add photo comments
POST
stevehall222000 avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

American Vs British

brokeymcpoverty Report

Add photo comments
POST
ines_c_wilhelm avatar
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.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#41

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

obvz Report

Add photo comments
POST
hmsagar avatar
John Doe
Community Member
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

verityglasses Report

Add photo comments
POST
drjekyll avatar
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

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

American Vs British

bathadah Report

Add photo comments
POST
cmcd1070 avatar
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!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#49

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#50

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#51

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#52

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.

#53

This submission is hidden. Click here to view.