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What’s totally acceptable and completely normal in one country might get you some funny looks elsewhere. Or, in other words, welcome to Planet Earth where there are loads of different countries and cultures that are bound to blow your mind when you travel.

This time, we’re looking at the differences between the United States and the United Kingdom. Even though both countries have a ‘special relationship’ (not to mention a rocky initial history together), far from everything is the same there. Hopping ‘over the pond’ means traveling a large distance both physically and culturally, too. Like you'd expect when going to any new country when you fly abroad.

Redditor TownImmediate9060 went on r/AskReddit and wanted to find out what’s socially acceptable in the US but would be horrifying in the UK. The thread went viral and the responses made us seriously realize the extent of the differences between the two allies. Check out some of the best answers below and remember to upvote your fave ones, dear Pandas.

#2

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Paying more than the price you see on a price tag in a shop due to taxes. WTF just put how much it costs!

gibsterminator , Akshay Chauhan Report

#3

Cashiers being forced to stand... give them a chair you masochists

andy_james_78 Report

Britain continues to use soft power to spread its influence abroad. Its cultural impact is off the charts. Just consider how influential the Harry Potter books, musicians like Ed Sheeran, and football entities like the Premier League really are.

They’re known and respected globally. As such, the UK’s able to draw in plenty of tourists (global pandemic notwithstanding because it’s hit everyone badly) and students from abroad because it remains at the forefront of people’s minds.

#4

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Politicians mentioning religion when campaigning

awbayley97 , wikipedia Report

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

Religion should have no room in politics anywhere. (But for positive values such as grace of charity.)

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#5

New mothers going back to work almost immediately after giving birth, because they don’t have paid maternity leave

MultipleDinosaurs Report

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#6

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK An $800, four-block ambulance ride.

jeff_the_nurse , REEET JANK Report

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Downunderdude
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anything about the so-called American health system is a mystery to the rest of the world.

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However, research shows that the confusion and uncertainty around the long-term effects that Brexit, the UK’s exit from the European Union, will have slightly dampened the country’s influence abroad.

Meanwhile, the British Council found that it’s actually culture, not politics, that deepens the ties between the UK and the US. And it’s culture that’s going to play a vital role in the future of both nations as well.

#7

That whole thing where American kids pledge their allegiance to the flag. That is completely weird and scarily totalitarian to us Brits.

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#8

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Overworking. It's rewarded and encouraged in the U.S., but during my time in the U.K. my colleagues were horrified by the long hours and lack of holidays that was the norm in the U.S.

CuriousAboutLife0 , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

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Downunderdude
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What an awful soulless place. And I'm guessing the only reason they give them what looks like expensive chairs is so they don't get sued for workplace injury.

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#9

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Greeters in supermarkets. Just feels fake.

smokingthegateway , Kristina Paparo Report

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

Are greeters real? I thought the Simpson's was exaggerating. I guess in a country so massive, you gta find a way to stand out? Still seems weird tho

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“Culture and history were the two top rated factors contributing to the UK’s attractiveness among American respondents, with 43% identifying ‘cultural and historic attractions’ as a major draw and 42% identifying ‘history,’” the British Council explains what it discovered in its research.

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#10

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Driving everywhere.

In the UK it's perfectly normal to have your kid walk to school and walking to the shops to do your shopping.

X0AN , why kei Report

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Something
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This varies in the US too. In most cities it's normal not to have a car, but not in places where most people don't live within walking distance to anything.

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#11

Offering full-time employees anything less than 28 days of paid holidays per year - it's not only socially unacceptable - it's illegal!

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#12

Bragging about how expensive something was.

In the US "this is a $100 shirt" ...smug face

In the UK "can you believe I got this whole suit for £25!" ...smug face

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Despite some of the more superficial cultural differences between the US and the UK, both nations appear to care about pretty much the same issues.

“The research showed a high degree of shared concern about global issues among young people in both countries with poverty, extremism/terrorism, and climate change as the top factors chosen by young people in both the US and UK,” the British Council found. “The research suggests the relationship between the two countries is at root a cultural as much as a political phenomenon, and viewed in those terms it is indeed special.”

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#13

Labelling the winner of a sports tournament that only your country plays as ‘World Champions’

Calling Football ‘Soccer’

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Paul Davis
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We're not the only ones doing that. No one seems to blink at the audacity of the Miss Universe beauty contest, where Earth seems to win every time.

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#14

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK A rubber in England is not the same as a rubber in the US.

Butwaip , Annie Spratt Report

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

In the UK, a durex is (or used to be) a condom. In Australia, it's sticky tape. Best not to get them confused.

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#15

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Gaps in bathroom stalls

8xxx5 , ttarasiuk Report

Ironically, the actual term ‘special relationship’ sees very little use in the US, primarily being a British way of categorizing the tight bonds between the two nations. However, this doesn’t change the fact that both countries are very much skipping along arm-in-arm, primarily admiring each other’s cultural output (leaving politics a secondary concern).

#16

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Making tea in a microwave.

fantsukissa , MoneyBlogNewz Report

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#17

When my Brit friends were visiting, they were horrified when the waiter took their credit card to swipe back at the terminal. This made them REALLY uncomfortable.

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#18

Cutting lines for things, I’ve seen some people when going to Disney world trying to cut lines for random reasons. Queueing in the uk is like our national sport

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Redditor TownImmediate9060’s thread about the differences between the US and the UK was a roaring success. It got more than 67.7k upvotes in just over a week. What’s more, the thread got over 51k comments which just goes to show that the OP hit the nail on the head and chose a niche topic that plenty of folks were interested in.

The thread also got over 300 awards, proving that TownImmediate9060’s fellow Reddit users really appreciated them asking the question in the first place.

#19

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK My (British) partner & I (American) were in London, running late to meet our friends. Just as we get to the tube station, I see our train has just pulled in; we haul ass across platform and I yell, “HOLD THE DOOR.” Someone does, we make the train, I don’t see a problem. My partner, by contrast, is mortified. This was 4-5 years ago & he is still mortified. Apparently we were meant to just...let the train leave? Without us?? & wait for the next one???

Ok-Cryptographer8906 , Chris Yang Report

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Linus Nilsson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On the tube, there's absolutely no reason to "hold the door". The next one will be in in a few minutes, and you will just be a little late. By holding, everyone on the train will be late, and there is actually a possibility that it travels down the line, delaying several trains.

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#20

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Asking new neighbors, "Have you found a church yet?"

boganvegan , Cosmic Timetraveler Report

#21

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Huge portion sizes. Kids meal in U.S is like a adult meal in U.K.

Revolutionary_Ad5901 , Ashley Green Report

What’s your opinion about the relationship between the US and the UK, dear Readers? What, in your opinion, makes this relationship between the two special? What do you think are the main cultural differences between Americans and Brits? Let us know what you think in the comment section below. We’d absolutely love to get your take on this, especially if you’re currently living in the US or the UK.

#22

I was in Japan once and there was a vending machine selling beer outside my hotel room.

So, being British, I bought a can and went to the elevator where I shared an excruciating couple of minutes with two American business men. They were horrified at my early day drinking, and I at their willingness to express this.

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

What's particularly wrong with day drinking? I mean, night won't reduce your drunkenness

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#23

As a Brit in the US, this is a fun one!

Pharmaceutical adverts on the TV are still weird af to me

The length and frequency of commercial breaks in general on TV is shocking

Low hanging fruit, but anything relating to child beauty pageants just makes me feel physically sick

Here's a nice one: taking 20+ minutes to help a complete stranger who is struggling with something. The amount of times a total stranger has stopped to assist me or someone I know? Y'all really make my heart melt!

Toxic_Orange_DM Report

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A Cat Named Dragon
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happens in the UK too. I am a woman and I traveled by train with a suitcase too heavy for me to lift and always some lovely man immediately assisted me with getting on and off.

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#25

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Addressing a stranger as ‘Sir’

UnsaddledZigadenus , Wikipedia Report

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chi-wei shen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To me, this sounds like a good style. How would you address a stranger in the UK?

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

Address a stranger? are you mad? why would anyone want to do that?!

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

That’s how I address men and women get hello miss/ms it’s polite and I’m in the uk

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Marcellus the Third
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Absolute nonsense entry. It's the way your bank director will address a male, and police officers are instructed to address most males to maintain distance (as opposed to address the drugged/unruly as 'mate').

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

But that's Ian Mckellan he is a sir lol. I would call a stranger sir or madam or miss, and I know ppl from the UK who use same?

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

Like excuse me Sir, do you have the time/do you know where the train station Is?

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

I'm Canadian. Was always taught you address as Sir or Ma'am. Be polite until given reason to be otherwise.

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

Informally, as a UK citizen, I always address a man that I don’t know as 'sir', in a pub the landlord is a 'squire'. However, if someone has done something kind to me, it then becomes 'cheers mate', thanks, take care'. Politeness.

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

To be fair, as a Brit I also strongly associate "sir" with the American south. There's a lot more sirring and mamming going on there than I've seen in the UK.

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

ok, but you address them as "love" thats a lot less tame them sir

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ERIN W.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To me that just seems like the polite thing to do so what is the problem?

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

I find it weirder to address your own dad as sir. It's like calling him Mr. instead of dad.

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

'ello governah is the most commonly used greetings in UK ;-))

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

addressing someone as Sir, Ma'am or Miss are signs of respect

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

since we do not give any royal titles any man can be a sir in usa not just one knited

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

Again worry about your own country and stop intruding on how we do things in America. We give respect to someone and you object. Wanker

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

In the United States, "sir" is an honorific, not a title, and everyone's entitled to be treated with honor until they prove otherwise.

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

I don't like sir and madam I think we should switch lol. Madam makes me feel OLD

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

If a man dropped his wallet and you wanted to get his attention, what would you say? Sir seems normal.

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

I use Sir and Ma'm frequently. What am i supposed to say, hey you? Especially if they are in any public capacity it is the best way to go. Women over about 30 can be addressed as Ladies. Men under about 35 can be addressed as Young Man. In informal situations i won't even try to explain. It depends on the context. That's my etiquette, mate, and I'm sticking to it.

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

My friends/neighbors call me miss ____. Makes me feel old but, I know it's out of respect. I am kinda old

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

I fail to find any gesture meant to show respect as disturbing.

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

We were always taught that you address elders as "Sir" or "Ma'am" because it's respectable. USA doesn't have royalty or aristocratic titles.

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

This is like if someone holds a door for you, you put on a sort of comedy bow and say "thank you sir" in a funny posh accent, we don't go around actually calling each other sir to be polite, unless you are a rich toff posh type.

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Analyn Lahr
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You mean, they don't do that in the UK? Huh. The more you know.

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

I've occasionally been called sir in the UK by strangers. The people who know me don't mistake me for a man.

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

Sir in the UK has strict legal and historical meanings; ingrained in the caste system that still permeates that nation, it means that the person referred to is superior to the speaker. In this country, it is simply a term of respect.

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

Sorry, but all that you said about the UK is incorrect. There is no caste system in the UK, and the word 'Sir' has no legal meanings. Perhaps you are referring to the correct honorific for a knight but the word itself implies no 'superiority'; as part of a name it informs of the title held by that person and as a form of address is merely a formal replacement for a name.

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

Some comments seem bizarre to me. I would say to someone "Excuse me ,Sir." The British are generally formally polite like that. We only slag you off when you leave the room!

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

It is leftover from earlier times when we would address our elders as Sir or ladies as ma'am. Our shock today is the amount of cursing that is pervasive everywhere.

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

But Brits give away titles and then people call these people Sir, Dame or whatever. Both concepts are ridiculous to egalitarian nations like us Swiss or Scandinavians.

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

No-one uses them bar when those people are being interviewed on the telly. Even the Queen gets referred to as Liz or similar types of shortened and informal phrases. The UK is casual even when it gives away titles.

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

In the UK 'Sir' is someone who's been knighted. You wouldn't address just anyone that way. I'm from US, please let me know if this is wrong.

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

Johanna, we do use sir even if the person is not knighted. I'm quite shocked at what I've read in the other comments. It has to do with class and education. I for one will never use mate, lad, or call someone using oi.

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

Well when you get older (senior) it's often "dear" especially in a store. You don't know me, so you don't get to call me that. I get tired of it until I got fed up and have started saying "Actually, it's ma'm".

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

I work with a Canadian who hugely overuses the word 'ma'am', it's completely automatic and utterly soulless. 'oi mate' or 'excuse me' usually suffice in the UK

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

Agreed, excuse me is very polite and covers any interaction with a stranger if you want to ask for or offer help. No gendered term needed

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W Bruce Jaworski
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They just reserve the title of"Sir" to their betters who have been banged by a sword from their pseudo monarch they so love to be owned by.

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

But signs of respect are culture bound. In Asia calling elders 'auntie and uncle' is respectful- would be weird in US

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

We don’t have royals that those terms are reserved for. It’s shouldn’t catch anyone off guard that someone addresses someone else with respect due to class. That in itself Is weird.

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

But not in the UK. Manners are linked to your culture. For example in the uk talking about money isn't polite, in Asia wearing shoes indoors etc.

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#26

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Responding to work emails while on leave/vacation.

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N G
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I fear this one may be culturally appropriated - I'm in the UK and have worked for people who have done this, and been "encouraged" to do this myself. I have offered once (but that was because it was a big, serious project, and my time off was looking after the MIL's house for two days and I was BORED!)

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#28

Chanting the acronym of your country at any given opportunity.

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#29

I don’t know how common it actually is there, but going fucking wild at the cinema during a hugely popular film like Avengers: Endgame or a Star Wars film. There’s a bunch of videos on YouTube of the audience reactions to various big franchise films and I don’t know how anybody lasts more than a few minutes in that room.

When I saw The Force Awakens, like two people half-heartedly cheered when the title screen came up and then someone immediately told them to shut up.

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Linus Nilsson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While talking about american cinemas, why don't they have seat reservation? In Sweden, we book in advance, choosing our seats by how many we are, where the screen is and availability.

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#30

Refuse a drink to a grown-ass taxpaying 20 year old

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

I can legally buy a gun and hold a hunting license, I can legally get married, vote, make medical decisions, have a mortgage and go to an adult prison for legal infringements but cant enjoy a cold beer on a Saturday afternoon.

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