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The UK has its own breed of humor and what gets a Brit laughing may leave outsiders scratching their heads.
Heavy on self-deprecation, almost undetectable sarcasm, and constant deadpan delivery, it can feel like a totally different language.
But fear not, we’ve put together a new piece about the social media magazine 'British Memes' to help you understand (and use!) their jokes just as effectively as they do.
So continue scrolling and happy learning!
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This post may include affiliate links.
#1
cats_from_the_void 2 years ago
I see the problem, you were far too kind about it, those who delight in irritating our cat lords must not live
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From Shakespeare’s comedies to Billy Connolly’s command of an audience, Gavin & Stacey’s taste of Welsh whimsy to Derry Girls’ earthy look at life in the 1990s, humor has been central to the history of storytelling across the UK for a very long time.
But if you ask an academic to come up with a description for British humor, they will most likely run into some trouble.
Dr. Ian Wilkie, a lecturer in performance at the University of Salford, said: “Having taught younger American students, they take the British sense of humor to be Monty Python, by which they mean a sort-of slightly erring towards the surreal, very iconoclastic in terms of attacking the big targets, very silly.”
#3
Lemme get the lemons 2 years ago (edited)
Thank you! I hate those awards, because I missed one day off of school before, and despite being told I'm one of the best students, like in the top five, I got nothing. It unfair and stupid Edit: I got a prize for attendance today 🙃
However, Wilkie said that, while those traits can become shorthand for ‘the British sense of humor’, he doesn’t think “that cuts the mustard.”
Dr. Wilkie highlighted that there are already differences in popular humor in the four home nations. It diversifies even more between the major cities, making it difficult to pinpoint a blanket ‘British’ humor.
#7
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 2 years ago
I grew up in England and now live in Australia. I can confirm both these comments
One example is the Scottish brash-with-a-twinkle style of Billy Connolly or the more gentle approach of his compatriot Susan Calman. “Scottish people like witty jokes, there is a lot of respect for learning and that it likes quite hard-hitting jokes, ones of mockery,” Wilkie explained.
While he noted there are similarities between Glaswegian humor and that found in other port cities, such as Liverpool, that Scottish style might not necessarily translate into a Welsh sense of humor or a broader English one.
Attending a comedy night, with many different acts, would show how difficult it is to categorize humour along geographical lines.humor
“You may laugh at different aspects of their schtick, but it would then be difficult to say, ‘well, there’s a British sense of humour’ because of the disparate kind of approaches and world views coming across.”
Another element worth considering is how much the humor of other countries has influenced British comedy.
If you’ve sat and enjoyed the exaggerated characters in Fawlty Towers, the characters and scrapes they find themselves in reflect the sketches of the Commedia dell’arte, a form of theatre from 16th Century Italy.
Among other elements, it involved a series of recognizable characters from all aspects of society engaged in witty dialogue.
Surrealism, long considered a staple of British humor was, as Dr. Wilkie describes it, performed by: “Dadaists from countries that we may choose not to think of as particularly funny, such as Germany."
“They were doing surrealism to the nth degree, quite deliberately as a performative art, in the early part of the 20th Century. I think it’s something we like to appropriate in a way and imagine that we’re the custodians of it, but it’s not culturally specific at all.”
#23
Take me to dinner first 2 years ago
For a second I forgot bird had a different meaning in this context and was like "wow that's oddly specific..."
With Monty Python held up as a good example of leftfield humor from the UK, the Carry On… series of films suggests a national affection for a less sophisticated bawdiness loaded with double entendres.
While they did enjoy popularity outside the country (Carry On Nurse ran in Los Angeles for more than two-and-a-half years on its initial release), Dr. Humor Wilkie doesn’t see the humor contained within the 30 titles of the franchise as something that defines a nation.
#24
“Carry On… kind of made fun of itself in its day, it was already slightly self-consciously old-fashioned and seaside postcard, but people could enjoy it because they could say, all bets are off really, we’re going to see something that’s sexist, end of the pier and a bit silly and that was fine,“ Dr. Wilkie explained.
#27
Anxious&Bored Bear 2 years ago
Hate those hypocrites who say work harder: your college education was paid for even when you were failing, your job was nepotism, and your wealth was inherited.
James016 2 years ago
Molly-Mae won Love Island so is getting paid by companies such as Pretty Little Thing to do stuff. Hard graft that is
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les 2 years ago
marcus rashford shamed the government into doing their jobs. the gov were happy to let kids starve during lockdown. he forced the change cos a footballer cant be seen to do more than the gov
Ricky Grimshaw 2 years ago (edited)
Everything Marcus Rashford is doing for children in our country but ended up being unfortunately racially abused for missing a penalty during our penalty shootout at the Euro 2020 final.
Wondering Alice 2 years ago
The whole thing with Rashford was just crazy. Only the English in the UK needed challenging, can't believe everyone else in England was ok to go along with it before Rashford made a fuss. In Wales, there was like a tiny discussion about the availability of food for children during the summer lock down and the acceptance of plans in place must continue until further notice. In England they had a huge debate, actually sat down and voted and agreed to let children starve.
Lynne Stankard 2 years ago
During lockdown Marcus and his Mum were out there delivering food to people who had nothing. This lad is a legend xx
Wysteria_Rose 2 years ago
I was about to say: Is this the Kim Kardashian of the UK?
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The Rock Obama 2 years ago
I have free college admission if I go to a public university in state because of prepaid admission my parents started when I was born, and I worked hard to get a scholarship to school too. I will never tell people “work harder” even though I didn’t have to work as hard as others in life. I don’t know what it’s like for most people, but I have empathy and can understand how they feel. I have to work hard in life for my goals to be a nurse even though school was easy for me. People who say “just work harder” make me so mad because they make us all look bad
Julie Telfer 2 years ago
Marcus Rashford absolute hero! Mollie who?? She should try doing without her posh privileged lifestyle for a year then see how much harder she can work hypocrites like her make me sick!!!!
will bower 2 years ago
Marcus Rashford is the only sporting personnel/celebrity I would love to shake hands with. He's an amazing person and deserves everyone's respect
Krod Mandoon 2 years ago
Isn't the title of this list "50 Memes to bring a taste of British Humor to your screen"? If this qualifies, our sense of humor is more different than I realized. Accross the pond, there's nothing to laugh at, just an entitled cnt to be irritated at...
#28
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 2 years ago
At least ALL of them would come home without getting shot at.
#30
It’s these different styles and presentations of comedy by British performers that. Dr. Wilkie believes make it impossible for an academic to point, with confidence, at various elements and state categorically that they alone make up the nation’s famed sense of humor.
#31
Pink Princess 2 years ago
Red telephone boxes look so cool and posh and aesthetic and then you have the one on the right
#33
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
There's a really nice frozen custard place about 45 min. away from my parents. They'd make the trip once a month or so, and bring the dog. He got a spoonful of everyone's custard. Once they went, and it was cold, rainy, and crowded. They decided to go to the Baskin Robbins across the street. They got their ice cream, and a paper bowl so they could share with the dog. He wouldn't eat it. I guess he decided that if he was going that far, it had to be the custard or nothing.
“No, I wouldn’t say there is a British sense of humor,” he concluded. “I think the best you can hope for is some big, beacon terms (eg. sarcasm, understatement, self-deprecation), that maybe, over a fair amount of time, might hold water."
“Comedy and humor have always been so open to counter-examples that you can never really pin anything down. It’s like trying to nail jelly to a wall.”
However, if you'd like to see more 'British Memes,' fire up our first publication on this fun little project.
#36
Anxious&Bored Bear 2 years ago
Same in the US: rich people find loopholes to get out of paying taxes, so the taxes on the workers get increased.
#40
Chihuahua Mama 2 years ago
I actually feel it's a win if you haven't set foot in Dubai. Seems like a soulless place
#42
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 2 years ago
Everyone was enjoying the Donner Kebabs at the Christmas Party. Then they ran out. So they started on the Blitzen Kebabs.
#44
Susan Bosse 2 years ago
They have use of full lanes in my city, whether one or a gaggle of them. Tons of cyclists around here. HATE getting behind them but good on you for exercising. Now get out of my way. I have snacks at home.
#46
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
Is this like East Coast/West Coast snobbery of middle America? I looked up why people hate Birmingham. Most common answer was that it was riddled with crime, but the crime rate (63) is only marginally higher than London (54.9). (Actually, it was quite odd how similar crime rates are across UK. The worst had a crime rate only twice as high as the best. Some American cities have crime rates several times higher than others: New Orleans, Detroit and St. Louis have murder rates more than 10 times higher than New York's.)
#48
Auntriarch 2 years ago
The first person to win Deal or No Deal, her long term boyfriend left her a couple of weeks before. Not the same scale, but it did give us a nice warm feeling
#49
cats_from_the_void 2 years ago
oh you poor intellectually deprived dears, why would the government waste valuable tracking devices on you?
#50
Lemme get the lemons 2 years ago (edited)
Well to be fair, if you're on enough *illegal medicine* it can happen again
#52
Michael P (Perthaussieguy) 2 years ago
Twist: It wasn't part of a 'Meal deal', he was actually asking you out but saved himself by using this tactic :)
#54
Everybody Say Love! 2 years ago
The "Sorry" at the end is the epitome of being British. Someone walks into you, you say sorry xD
#58
Auntriarch 2 years ago
Not any more. Life is short, have the starter. Especially if it's scallops
#59
Fluffypanda 2 years ago
Oh yes and it's always when I need him to NOT take his sweet time to do it
#61
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
President Clinton wishes he had come up with this idea. The Eat Out to Help Out scheme, I mean.
#63
Delta Dawn 2 years ago
please tell me cba means can’t be arsed, because I’m going to use that from now on
#64
Scrapiechick 2 years ago
My old landlord used to do this thinking it wouldn't count and formal communications when I sued him for 3x my deposit hahahahaha
#65
Cat Chat 2 years ago
I laugh every time I get into the turn lane for my street, which looks like I'm sneaking in early for the turn lane for the light just past our street. Car after car starts following me to jump ahead, too. Then they are stuck behind me, where as if they drove passed me and got into the lane when they should have, would already be through the light. 🤣
#71
#73
Sami-Jo Ross 2 years ago
I tried balancing an opened water bottle on my forehead with the same results.
#74
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
Not likely. In Australia, they'll advertise e.g. table saws for $99.00, and you go there at opening time to get one and it turns out that maybe 4 were allocated to the three Aldi stores in your town, and somehow (mysteriously) they've all already been sold.
#76
Cat Chat 2 years ago
So, my 23f missed Mother's Day this year, but visited a couple of days ago. I showed her the poems her little sisters gave me hanging on the wall (unframed). Then showed her I still had the framed one she gave me at the same age. She started crying and I was like "yeah, your Mom still loves you!" She replies "No, and I only say this because they are asleep - I'M STILL THE FAVORITE!" 🤣
#83
Donkey boi 2 years ago
I'm wondering if anyone, well anywhere, has experienced the likes of the Colin & Cuthbert scandal. I mean do our American friends know the feeling to pick a side on such a raw topic? Do our passionate European neighbours have enough passion to enter this arena? Have our Asian fellows ever felt on the brink of anarchy over such a sensitive topic?
#84
#90
Alex Bailey 2 years ago
Hah, had lovely sun for weeks and my garden is suffering. No rain even forecast for the south east. Hosepipe ban looming.
#92
Auntriarch 2 years ago
That's not Barbara whose husband ran off with a footballer is it? I mean I can understand why she got into yogurt after that
#95
Auntriarch 2 years ago
Amazing how many adverts have "maxi" on them. RIP Maxi, greyhound of distinction
#96
#98
CwtchyMama 2 years ago
Ok but have you heard his podcast " help I sexted my boss " I'm pushing myself every episode
#103
#104
GenericPanda09 2 years ago
I used to work for the company that set up the clubcard scheme when it was just a guy and his wife that set it up out of their back bedroom, and was later bought outright by Tesco... my advice don't use one, that amount of data on you isn't worth an extra 7p off a can of beans every month. They analyse and sell ALL your shopping habits to EVERYONE willing to pay for it, one day they'll have coca cola in selling them it, the next pepsi will be in buying the same data on you. Stopped buying codoms this month? Next month your offers will probably be about nappies or some other baby stuff. All sold to you as doing you a favour, but in reality exploiting the f**k out of you.
#105
#106
#107
#109
#110
Heather Resatz 2 years ago
If you have parents that are good for you to stay with, bless you!! Do it!!
#112
Donkey boi 2 years ago
Scampi Fries. Great if you're eating them! Shocking if you're smelling someone who's eaten them!
#113
#114
#115
#116
Brooklyn Roffman 2 years ago
Has anyone else’s pollen allergies been acting up more than usual?
#117
#118
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
The footnote "* restrictions do not apply for members of the UK Government" has been omitted from the post
#119
#121
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
No, because I stop for a hot second and remember how much I hate doing laundry.
#122
ynyrhydref56 2 years ago
I take it this is about Madeleine McCann and not the precocious French schoolgirl of the cartoon. 😜 I was so confused for a second.
#123
#124
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
Could have been worse - imagine being german and taking part in the contest....
#127
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
And here we are only halfway through 2020v3. Only six more iterations left.
#128
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Julie Snelling 2 years ago
Finally a thread where the Americans don't understand half of what is being said. I get fed up of being the one saying "I don't know what this means" or "I don't know who that is".
Jime Yeannes 2 years ago
Is this a joke? Because I am from Argentina and I understood all of them...
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Michelle Rutherford 2 years ago
I'm still laughing at the 'Birmingham' one. These are all so true #BritishLife
Julie Snelling 2 years ago
Finally a thread where the Americans don't understand half of what is being said. I get fed up of being the one saying "I don't know what this means" or "I don't know who that is".
Jime Yeannes 2 years ago
Is this a joke? Because I am from Argentina and I understood all of them...
Load More Replies... Michelle Rutherford 2 years ago
I'm still laughing at the 'Birmingham' one. These are all so true #BritishLife
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