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While famously being very, very polite, it’s no secret that Brits also love the occasional witty, tongue-in-cheek comment. And not only that. They take the gold medal for the ability to laugh at themselves like there’s no tomorrow, mocking both little and serious things. I mean, should I even remind you of the notorious English comedian Ricky Gervais?!

And for the fans of the British lifestyle, we have a real treat! The Twitter page “No Context Brits” is an online destination which offers “a celebration of all things British,” meaning it’s both things we understand and things that leave us flabbergasted. Created pretty recently, in April 2021, the account has amassed 780K devoted followers and its audience seems to be growing still.

Below we selected some of the most entertaining, bizarre, and wholesome posts from “No Context Brits” for you to enjoy with your cuppa, so scroll down and upvote your favorite posts! After you’re done, be sure to check out our previous feature on the same page, as well as a similar post on another popular Twitter account, “No Context UK.”

In Britain, embarrassing moments, awkward encounters and clumsiness are all considered funny, contrary to many other places in the world. But the real challenging part of British humor, especially for foreigners, is to actually tell whether they are joking or being serious.

In this piece for TIME, the legendary English comedian Ricky Gervais tried to distinguish the key differences between American and British humor. According to Gervais, Americans do not hide their hopes and fears and they applaud ambition and openly reward success. The British, on the contrary, embrace the underdog, Gervais argues.

Gervais explained: “Americans say, ‘have a nice day’ whether they mean it or not. Brits are terrified to say this.” It’s because Brits don’t want to celebrate anything too soon, Gervais writes. “Failure and disappointment lurk around every corner. This is due to our upbringing. Americans are brought up to believe they can be the next president of the United States. Brits are told, ‘It won’t happen for you.’”

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Although any generalization should be taken carefully, an Anglo-American writer, Paul Goodman, argues similarly to Gervais. “The American philosophy and approach to life tend to be optimistic: life is an opportunity and we should enjoy it.” Meanwhile, “Brits are more likely to see life as a bit of an ordeal, tinged with absurdity, and sometimes you just have to just grin and bear it,” he explains.

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Nicki
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I freaking LOVE Brits! We have family in Wales and have been to the UK several times, my son (17 y/o) wants to move to London after he graduates college. He totally has our blessing to do so!

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GoddessOdd
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

US here, I am going with the second photo... I've never seen a room that full of gray suits before though... Brits don't wear blue?

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Joey Marlin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do, and black. Also other colours (just usually dark and/or restrained!). Isn't this photoshopped and the same couple of people? I ask as I can't find my reading glasses and so things are a titchy bit blurry!!! Ahem...🥸

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Dawn Depietro
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As the deluded American I am missing the port cigars and old photos of kings

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Janet C
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in Spain. Trust me when I say the Brits come here to let loose without anyone watching (they think). They get drunk and stay drunk. They do ridiculously stupid things (like try jumping from one balcony to another). Think the term "snotty Brit" is much more appropriate than "sophisticated Brit"

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Evan Tambolang
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are only two things when you think about British men. They're either a refined gentlemen, or savage hooligans

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censorshipsucks
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so 1 or 2. My experience is you only see 1 in short range distance from the queen. The rest of the place is 2.

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Queen Jackson.
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1 year ago

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Jane W.
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, the British as seen by American MOVIE MAKERS, please.

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elfin
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting that there don't seem to be any women in either picture.

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Rod Egret
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Go to the Red Light District of Amsterdam on a week-end and you will get an idea....

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Alan Strachan
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1 year ago

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Spittnimage
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have to carry their brollies and say poppyock and jolly good old man.

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Sheepdude
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you know somethings gone wrong when your country views another country as fancy, whilst everyone else regards them as the second picture.

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guesswho2who2
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

british people talk with the nicest accents as perceived by american ears... this makes all brits sound like they have the full Oxford degreed education & are all well-educated... even if they speak with a cockneyed east london accent...

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Martin Usher
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bottom- the Brits/Poms most people see when they visit the place.

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Auntriarch
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Americans are far too kind to us. Probably because of Jeeves and Wooster, etc

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The top pic, what is happening in the left hand side of the room?

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The quintessential part of British humor is irony and sarcasm, which are commonly used by Brits who rarely say anything literally. In fact, very often, they say one thing and mean completely different, and this is especially prominent in humor. This can cause great confusion to visitors, as Brits ironically mock their enemies, playfight with friends or point out the absurdities of daily life.

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Phill Healey
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For those of us that can't do the Chester run in less than 12 parsecs. Edit: I genuinely had no idea it was 4th May when I posted this. 😂

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KJ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The difference between going out or going out out (Micky Flanagan).

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Goodman argues that the confusion may also arise due to the fact that Brits often say ironic jokes with a straight face. “To avoid being misunderstood, most Americans will either deliver irony with a smile on their face, or 'signpost' it, adding a phrase such as 'only joking' afterward. Brits don’t usually do that.”

Puns and wordplay are also very prominent in British humor. “There’s a more intense and playful relationship with the language,” according to Goodman. “It’s seen in other ways, too, not just with humor, examples being cryptic crosswords and word-orientated game shows,” he adds.

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It’s important to highlight that essentially humor relies on culture and its people. What’s normal in one culture can seem very bizarre or even offensive to another. For this reason, we cannot ever fully translate humor. Some of the British comedy may be found very weird and not funny by Americans, while some mainstream American comedy can feel too obvious for Brits’ liking.

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Kusotare
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I was a referee, I used to remind the parents that there were no scouts in the crowd watching their kids.

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Nathaniel
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Peel here" means get the knife out the drawer and hack away at the sodding plastic.

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Rosie Hamilton
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Probably get a load of people mistakenly now saying 'but these are for paramedics' NO they are not. They always check the WHOLE car EVERY single time. For good reason - some people don't use these, what if it fell off or was forgotten in a rental car etc, etc. Michael Lerner created them because he was scared by the aggressiveness of other drivers when driving his 18 month old nephew and wanted people to be more considerate. Google it before arguing.

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Bathsheba
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a spoof. The Tories expect homeless people to take responsibility and cut THEMSELVES in half.

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Rosie Hamilton
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Who hasn't seen a Dalek being transported? Those things are slow and can't do stairs well. The TARDIS is a different matter...

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NsG
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What are you complaining about? This *IS* a normal day in the UK. (Possibly Newcastle, I can't see enough geographic identifiers)

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Kayjunmoon
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of the British Brexit politicians who talked about 'British fish'. Apparently fish need passports.

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Beth S
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well s**t, I thoroughly enjoy poster's take on this pizza place. LOL

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Note: this post originally had 80 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.