What do Brits think about Americans? Why you may find US colleagues 'more polite' than Brits. We'll bear that in mind. Related Topics. United States Language. Bing Site Web Enter search term: Search. TravelMail Partners. Jet2holidays - Plan your trip now. Pick the perfect holiday destination with Jet2Holidays.
Expedia - Save on accommodation. I was shocked to find Indians running my hotel, Polish family running the restaurant around the corner, French guys running a gift shop, Greeks running another, all of them with thick accents having just arrived in the last year I asked them. Silly me! I have even seen Brits interviewed on TV and them putting captions on the screen.
The people speaking sound more like Tony Blair than a cabbie in Hackney. What a brilliant site! The weather is a social equalizer in Britain, it annoys and amuses everybody, so for a Brit to start a conversation about it is generally a good sign and an opener for further conversation in other words — I like you, lets talk!
There is a misconception about immigrants and again it depends literally in which pin prick on the map you are in. There are a small minority thankfully small that are bigotted and close minded but luckily they are a dying breed and most comments made about nationality are done in tongue and cheek humour. Illegal immigrants are resented as they recieve benefits worth more than pensioners get.
Recent events are different as the general concensus is that Iraq was illegal and should never have been allowed to happen, basically lessons from WW2 were totally ignored and in this day and age war should be a thing firmly in the past. The single burning issue for Brits is the belief we are a small nation with no room or money left. The flood of low skilled workers from new EU member states in the East of Europe has made this view popular.
This is causing problems for our working classes and skilled manual workers, and straining our public finances. There has been noticeable growth for racist parties in the UK over the last decade. Sorry for the long and depressing post! Yeah Mullet, it was long and depressing. I am guessing that you are young enough to leave and to work abroad.
I did in the 70s for some 20 years worked in 5 countries and visited 32, and had the best time of my life, but many people are now battering the walls down figuratively to enter the UK, for thanks to the generous benefits, who else would allow a Muslim to preach hatred against the country he is living in, and who pays him benefits for him and his family?
This was the case under the Labour Government and eventually spent and wasted so much that it made the recession we have had, worse than it could have been. Have a great time if you go, it must be harder now to find work. Great article!
He honestly thought that Nottingham where I live was imaginary, invented by Disney for the Robin Hood film. I nearly fell off the sofa……………. Perhaps Americans think that if we exist at all we all wear green tights er…pantyhose??? Any I love my beer at warmer temperatures and a couple of my favorites are Black and Tan and Newcastle.
Great list, particularly the thing about the Revolutionary War. I think the whole clinging to Manchester United thing is our attempt to make it look like we understand what the fuss is about. Examples: Duvet in nice hotels , trousers, centre, theatre, and so forth. Again, that distance thing. And I never understood why people think British food is bad. As a proud Boltonian, you can come here anytime. Any man who likes fizzy vimto is alright in my book! Thank you, RJKL, for a very insightful and spot-on assessment of views from this side of the pond!
Particularly the two points about being astonished with Hugh Laurie and the use of British spelling to indicate superior quality.
The best way to market anything with credibility in the US is to use a spokesperson with a British accent. Interesting article about which a couple of things struck a chord: I can still remember meeting an American couple in Norway when I was 10 who thought my family was Scottish because we came from the North of England. They actually argued with my parents about it! I would add another myth though. Unless I am mistaken, I think that Americans believe we have embraced the metric system.
Imperial measurements are still used by young and old alike. We have resisted metric for years and now it is more or less forgotten or at best ignored. This, to be fair, is probably quite confusing to any non-natives. I absolutely agree with this. Stones, pounds and ounces. No idea what my weight is in kg. Feet and inches. I do exactly the same with temperatures too! Rain is good. And as for the Manchester Utd thing. Actually, its true. However, United are insanely popular in their home city.
You should mock these people. Both theories are incorrect. Birmingham is somewhere lower down the list. Britsh food is often fabulous. Just avoid the chains. Is it supplied by Colgate? No, really, grim. You need some nice vinegary mint sauce…mmmmm. Its you who speaks funny. Very funny — and of course Manchester ranks No.
If you have any doubts — watch Corrie then watch East Enders — no contest. Man United! I lived 30 miles from my duty station and lived like a Brit as much as I could.. One thing, Americans assume that other nations know nothing about the US, assuming that other nationals have the same lack of knowledge that Americans do when traveling abroad.
The whole London thing amuses me too. I was once trying to explain to someone whereabouts I lived, and basically had to end up saying about miles from London to the left. I was born with an underbite and recently someone my boyfriend knows from Virginia was telling me about the operation that she had and I will soon have to go through to correct it as she had the same problem.
If you want to blend in, speak quiertly and avoid Red and large white trainer: I was recently inroduced as coming from England in London…. Having lived a long time, perceptions change with time but the early remarks stay with you and smart.
At that time, this was certainly false. My parents were horrified when I left. This myth is due to people who have serious issues thinking of it like the colour of eyes, nothing to lose sleep over. A hugely popular TV star Esther Rantzen had very prominent teeth. After she has surgery, all her personality seemed to have left with the teeth! However as the years pass, alterations of the truth by Hollywood has changed the truth worldwide and made us bit players-and we believe it now.!
This seriously needs overhaul, like our wonderful work in the Commonwealth, the education, railways, medicine now politically besmirched. Against whom? Nobody in Europe fears invasion these days, neither do we want to invade! Another change — besides ice.. First resisted, then embraced , then resented when too many came in.
I believe Europe is very hospitable and had come to terms with it, until it became politically astute to invent Islam as the biggest threat to humanity. So far the UK has bravely fought this idea, or had at last visit. Lastly, the Revolution: While everyone loves to be Irish, German,Italian, along with their ethnic foods, what about the Brits?? Sadly, they and their food ARE American…so they are invisible. I try to get across that the first heroes and settlers were first or second generation Brits, and surely were still torn in allegiances.
I have to warn our American friends about the binge drinking. There is a bit of lingering historical suspicion which, you have to admit, is understandable but I have never come across anyone who hates either Germany or Germans, or even expresses dislike.
You can upset Britons by printing the Union Flag back-to-front! See your opening heading. Will you change it? I doubt it. Not that I believed these, but did get a chuckle. Is there a quid pro quo in Britain a list of common myths about Americans that we can also dispute and dispel?
Jonathan, saw you tonight on the BBC, so visited your site. Very nice it is too! There is a feeling that ultra cold beer kills the flavour.
I am 66 years old and have travelled extensively in Europe, so I know of what I speak. Americas geographic isolation accounts for much of the misunderstanding of other places. The world is smaller now, with instant media, and perceptions will change.
Maybe it will help ease the discomfort if you keep in mind that America is so large that Americans have many misconceptions about other places in America. Also, in my fifty years in the US I cannot remember an anyone saying a negative thing about Britain. We like you guys. Sorry, but I was there last year visiting family and still had problems getting ice in my drinks.
And quite often the drink in question is cold enough as it is. I usually pre-empt a problem by saying whether I want ice or not, when ordering. Not so large then, is it? What a fun post! Definitely made me chuckle. One myth that I hear from people in the U. Another is that the average Brit enjoys high tea every day.
I hope this clarification helps any of you that are wishing to enjoy this very English tradition on a visit to our shores. Have been to America many times, and i love it there. We talk fast and it can be hard to understand my accent. Most true Brits support the clubs their families support, where they are from because it truely means something to them.
What we do hate is the EU. It tells us what laws we have to abide by, and who can come and live in our country and where our money should be spent. We have that same rivalry with the French too. I had never been so offended. The cost this country suffered to win WW2 will something America will never understand. We fought for our country and our way of life. And i love Britian too, rule Britannia. We are quite happy for you to do your own thing.
We love how big and brashy it all is. We also like coming home and living our quiet laid back lifestyles,l with 5 weeks holiday a year i might add, something that the US does not get to enjoy. Iam so over the usa… I am just ready to go home… soon I hope. A few extras! We do not struggle through FOG every day 2. We do not all wear bowler hats 3. The food is great — all different ethnicities and loads of Michelin stars and you dream of hamburgers? High tea is beans-on-toast originating with the factory workers decades ago.
It no longer exists. Afternoon tea is cucumber sandwiches and tiny cakes with a cup of tea. Get it right Hyatt! We shower, have inside toilets yes, I have been asked!
Stalin knew that. Thirdly, at Bletchley, we were reading all their signals. Without the US, I reckon the war would have taken a couple more years, and left a lot more people dead. But the Axis powers were never going to win. Fourth, be wary of using American slang and pronounciation. Come on people, the Uk has about 60 million people in it. Many of these are SO true! K, and other places. Great post — agree with pretty much all of the stereotypes and the real truths.
I like America, have been several times and will be honeymooning there in a few months. Here are a couple of points to make if there are any of our American cousins reading this. Would be interested is reading your thoughts.
In Florida in degrees yes, over here no. Its just not needed all the time. Must be a total myth, I drink regularly and cant remember drinking warm lager. If this refers to proper beer aka ale, bitter etc then yes sometimes this is not chilled. But refer to my first point about ice and typical temperatures…. You play what you call football we call American football.
Not sure really what this is all about. In which case all countries benefit from this, and every country loves tourest income. Im a Brit, period. We are Britain unless you are particularly racist or nationlist or big football or rugby match occurring between home nations. Seperate countries?
Course not. Something us brits do I acknolowdge but they are very similar…. Its not a steryotype, in fact im not sure what it it is….. I am British. There is one that is close to the truth. The one that says it rains all the time is nearly true.
Also, where I live we do speak with a posh accent. I am not British nor American, I have lived in both countries, and I love both. This says quite a few truths…. The beer IS warm — well, not really warm, but not as cold as I would have like it. But it is the same in the US. Ice cold beer is hard to find. Perhaps because I am from a warm country, but I drink ice cold beer.
But once they know you, they are warm and caring — and the best of friends, with a great sense of loyalty. As I said, I do love the UK. Ice cold beer tastes like water. Slightly chilled English and Scottish ales are loaded with wonderful hops and maltiness. Crap beer and lager is served ice cold to mask the taste, or lack of it. There are however some great beers coming out of the states, brooklyn lager, samuel adams etc. Along with manx, cornish and cumbrian.
Apart from the above comment americans are always welcome to visit our britain and sample our differing cultures which are thousands of years old. While some people drink tea and coffee, both drinks are about as popular here as they are in America.
The Queen comment is odd to me. Why would everyone know the Queen? As for WWII, why must we be so vulgar about taking credit for victory? I, for one, am grateful that the allies defeated the worst regime in history. It was a group effort and had America stayed out of it, she would be the worse for it.
I appreciate that the UK continues to join the US in global endeavors. However, I think most individuals realize a great deal of us disagreed with the u-turn we took to Iraq. I suspect we will always have this bond. My burning question is: How did Americans lose their English accents? Why did moving to the colonies flatten the way we speak? The contemporary American accent is the accent of Britain during the 18th century.
Our accent is actually much older than yours, with yours developing into what it is now at some point after we broke away.
The accent of the American southeast, is supposedly the closest to the British accent of the late 18th century. Minus the long drawl that begins to develop towards Mississippi. I think one of the main things to remember is that the UK is much bigger than just London!. I stumbled on this and have to say I love the article and its nice to see the British sense of humour showing through in some of the comments!
Why do americans always say 'chip chip' when impersonating the british? I've never heard a brit say that in my life lol. Why do americans think every brit likes crumpets and walks with a pole up their arse? Why do americans say "wanna grab a coffee" so often? As a Brit should I say "wanna grab a cup of tea"? Why do Americans care about British royalty?
Serious question, I don't understand. LATiffani1 Can someone help out a Brit here. Do Americans use the phrase "epic meltdown" to mean "laughing to the point of incontinence"?
0コメント