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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

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Lauren Southwood
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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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#10

American Vs British

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Xmayze
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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

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Claire Kidd
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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

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Steve
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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

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TC
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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
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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

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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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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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#40

American Vs British

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

It's actually quite delicious, economical and takes 5 min to prepare

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

replace the toast with tortillas and voila! mexican breakfast (add chilli though)

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

HAVE YOU NEVER BEEN CAMPING OR PUT BEANS ON YOUR HOT DOG?!?! IN AMERICA WE DO THIS ALL THE TIME TOO!!! Do people who post this s**t never leave their house?! What is the difference from eating baked bean and mopping it up with bread and this?! UGGGHHH have eaten this SO MANY times before I found out it's a "British meal"

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

"beans on toast wtf is that" Well, it's beans.. on toast.. What did he think it was?

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

Not British, but do not talk c**p about this delicious meal. Now I want some

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Lai'Anna Martin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Delicious. That's what. They served beans with breakfast at Shakespeare & Co Cafe in Lexington, KT USA so I ate it. I'm sure true Brits might criticize its authenticity but I liked it.

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

I'm not British and still I don't get what's wrong with this. I quite love it, but maybe because I've always liked beans. I don't necessarily put them on toast or something but still, nothing wrong with that. But hotdogs in sweet flour? Bacon with maple syrup? Sweet breads? Sweet chips? Hell, Americans, I'd keep quiet about weird foods if I was you...

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

Some Brits denied this gastronomic mess even existed higher up in this post.

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

It is delicious. Toast the bread, butter it, heat up the beans, pour on top. Eat. Better than red meat. And I'm not a vegan or vegetarian. Try it before you knock it.

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Adrian-Mark Boardman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

does it not also not count as a huge amount of your recommended fibre intake, a small amount of salt intake and one of your 5 fruit and veg a day?

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

You can elevate it with some aged cheddar on top. (cheddar that's white, not orange!)

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

That looks quite good tho, I wouldn't mind having a taste of that 😁

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

If you grew up in the forties, in the US, this is something you may have eaten. especially if there were many children in your family.

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

I grew up in the 60s in Canada. I really don't remember if I ate this growing up, but as an adult, I've been eating a bowl of baked beans with a side of toast for nearly 40 years.

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Jamie Ditchburn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Its a gourmet game changer if you smash some grated cheese on top!

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

Americans are in the main ignorant, rude and have very disgusting language.

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

Popular with students and a very healthy cheap snack I understand.

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

in australia its called baked beans on toast and yeah its f*****g delicious

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

I'm American, and when I was a kid my aunt introduced me to pork & beans sandwiches, much like the photo above. Not toasted bread, just bread/beans/bread. Tasted great, but it was a bit messy b/c the sauce made the bread mushy. I'm 63 and I'd still eat it. And we're several generations non-British

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

2 pieces of squishy white bread buttered, with homemade (or doctored up canned) baked beans, cold or room temp. 😋 yummy

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

Is this left over from war-time rationing? (In the US army, this is traditionally known as "s**t on a shingle." Yes, despised even by dogface soldiers.)

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

I beg to differ. S.O.S. was the US army sobriquet for creamed chipped beef on toast. Considering what I've heard about army food during WW2, this is probably not a totally inaccurate description.

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

I have it at least once week,nice evening snack add a few chopped onions and some yellow mustard and yum.

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

I don't care for baked beans, on toast or otherwise. I'm more likely to eat a hot cereal in the morning like oatmeal or Malt-o-Meal.

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

So in America there is chipped beef in toast. Never knock a food unless you try it 🙂

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

I'm American and I eat beans on toast. Any other Americans eat it too?

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David G. Pierce
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, c'mon people! To each his own...I'll bet some of that stuff tastes quite good. As they say, "Don't knock it till you've tried it!" ;-D

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

I totally get this. Ever heard of putting milk (condensed milk) on your sliced bread or toast? yeah we filipinos do it. :)

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

YES! Grew up with this. beans and franks on Saturday night and then COLD bean sandwiches early in the week. Awesome.

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

It's an amazing invention, and i say that as someone who never used to be able to stomach baked beans. It's actually surprisingly nutritious and healthy - hot milky tea and beans on toast is the sort of fare you can build an empire on.

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

It looks like food eaten during the Depression, that and the bread on bread on bread sandwich.

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

I wonder where CLO lives in the US? Beans on toast are eaten all the time in the NW!

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

You said it: beans on toast ( or is it you don't remember what you just said)

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

My Dad used to eat them, as children, we thought he did it to gross us out!

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

I've never had it, but it's carbs on carbs with a nice carby sauce. What's not to like?

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

Not British or American, but I do like this with different types of beans. It's good!

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

Because nothing starts the day off right like food that gives you major gas for the remainder of the day. Perfect for cubicle workers!

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

Beans on toast is white beans in tomato sauce served on a piece of bread! =P We do that here in Sweden as well, even if its not as widely spread as in the UK! =P

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

with all that pepper must be pretty s****y beans OH WAITT they dont like maple syrup over there

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

Im english and I hate beans on toast, they are gross. Anything served in that fake tomato sauce is a no!

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Helma Nollen
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6 years ago

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It is disgusting, carbs on carbs, and the beans are too sweet as well

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#41

American-british-cultural-differences-confusion

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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
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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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