Want more British Reddit videos? Watch these next! 🔴 You Know You're British When... (12 Things Brits Do & Say) ruclips.net/video/SK56Z_3STS4/видео.html 🔴 10 Things That Are RUDE In The UK But Polite In Other Countries ruclips.net/video/o7EQkKG6fa0/видео.html 🔴 15 DEAD Giveaways That Someone Is British ruclips.net/video/bimpUi69Cvw/видео.html
2:32 I usually say, "I'm alright, you?" 2:57 Yep I do get very annoyed when someone queue jumps but I feel like its just polite in general not to queue jump? 3:42 I have not heard about these words. 4:28 I am also not sure what they mean XD 4:30 I only get upset if I honestly do think that it was there fault that we bumped into each other and they didn't say sorry back when I say sorry, if I think its my fault I don't mind if they don't say sorry. 5:31 Well it can be used atagonistically if you do it like that but its mainly used if you want someone to move out of your way, so excuse me is a way to say politely please move to someone else. So with the antagonistic aspect, you essentially saying, move out of my way, when you have ALREADY bumped them out of your way, so yeah in that way it can be seen as antagonistic. Excuse me can also be used to say "What did you say to me?" As well, so if someone says somerthing rude, you can say "excuse me??" 10:56 Next is a clothing store, very popular, you'll see them a lot in the UK. 11: 07 Blitz spirit is essentially about us being prideful of our how we, or more like our grandparends and older lol, dealt with the blitz in world war 2, with the stay calm and carry on thing and the "british morale" holding firm despite the bombings and all that, its essentially us being patritotic when we talk about the "Blitz spirit" However this person is essentially saying, despite you talking about it, you specifically weren't there so don't think you deserve things/entitled to things because of something you didn't do. Great video as usual :D
The British equivilant to that's "what she said" is, "said the actress to the bishop", you can also say "said the bishop to the actress", so, in turn do you have "that's what he said"?
Biggest thing that makes us *Rationally* angry is getting asked if we are English, the majority of the UK technically is, but no we're not all from England. Thanks for the content though guys!
I get audibly offended if I hold a door for someone or give them the "after you" gesture and they do not say "thank you". I start to be belligerent with "you're welcome! Oh no problem, anytime!" conversations to myself so they can hear me. I should probably just stay quiet but at the time I get so mad
When that happened to me I've said rather loudly "No problem" If they say "What?" I say, "Sorry, I thought you said Thank You" or "Don't mention it! oh, you didn't did you?"
@@BRIDINC1972 if I remember rightly that was the original London Bridge and it went to a place called Lake Havasu City, Arizona and they thought it was actually Tower Bridge they were buying
If someone doesn’t offer you tea within 5 minutes of entering their house, you should make your excuses and leave - you’ve come at a bad time and they would rather you weren’t there right now.
Offering a tea when you have a visitor is just polite. I even offer tea to plumbers, electricians etc if they're going to be doing some work in my place.
Blitz spirit refers to the whole "keep calm and carry on" attitude during the blitz bombings in WW2. If someone is said to have blitz spirit these days it means they are stoic and determined in challenging times. On the topic of teeth, funnily enough the UK actually ranks higher than the US in teeth health. It's just that more care is taken in keeping them healthy than the aesthetic of them. Great video as always.
And interestingly enough most of the people who evoke the "Blitz spirit didn't live through it. I celebrate 59 years in this body come January. Both my parents lived through the Blitz in London as teenagers, they would be in their 90s if still alive, and I don't think they would think it was something to celebrate!
My father was a volunteer ambulance driver in the East End during the Blitz and my mother was working in an aircraft factory when it was bombed and the workers strated but I don't remember them ever talking much any blitz spirit. Today I think the so called 'blitz spirit' is just when a group of people are stuck in a difficult situation, they tend to talk to each other and help out if they can.
Blitz Krieg = Lightning War. The German campaign to bomb London into submission during WW2. Our response was to turn several German cities into firestorms and ashes. But for a while there was a strong sense of fellowship and community between Londoners.
@@neuralwarp - Blitzkrieg actually refers to the fast, offensive strategy, with coordinated ground and air forces, developed and utilised by the German military. Blitz, alone, was the term adopted by the British, for the German bombing campaign against British cities. Particularly London, where the bombings occurred virtually every night, for many months and fairly regularly for the rest of the war. It was actually the German response to our bombing of Berlin, during the Battle of Britain. Although a tragedy for British cities, it was a godsend to the RAF, who were almost on their knees. The Blitz allowed them to rebuild and regroup. The firestorm bombings, of cities like Hamburg and Dresden, didn't occur until towards the end of the war, when the allies had established almost total air supremacy.
@@Codex7777 Liverpool had More bombs dropped on it than London but this was covered up at the time, ( we can take it was stated by some big wig and the scouse reply was yer but your not getting bombed are you ! ) for the morale was breaking down under the nightly raids a secret survey showed.
The car waving thing, what it means is on a narrow road (Wide enough for only one car) or where a line of cars is parked on one side, if someone pulls over to let you come the other way down the road, generally we would put our hand up, or flash our lights to say thankyou.
I haven't spent as much time as you Ravens have in the UK, but my cousin lived in rural Somerset, so I guess I spent more time driving on narrow roads and using passing places. My uncle used to drive so fast on those roads and I was amazed someone always managed to pop into a passing place so quick. As you can imagine, I was a bit more cautious. Now I'm trying to remember if folks waved thank you's like that -- and if I did the same when I was driving... Probably? LoL!
Also here in Seville, in southern Spain, the queue is sacred. You ask who the last person is and there is always a Spanish granny who will enforce it. You don't mess with Spanish grannies!
As a Brit myself, I've never understood the claim that queuing is a paticularly British thing. Americans queue too, I've seen it. What else would they do, just form a large crowd? How does that even work?
@@tonywalton1464 hahah in Brussels on a family trip my Dad occupied the width of the station escalator with his suitcase, and the Belgian commuter walking up behind us was confused when Dad didn’t move his suitcase on request (so embarrassing). This wasn’t in the Metro system though, but at main rail station..
@@Azzazpimp Stairs and hallways have no conventional lane system unless signage or arrows dictate it (but _nowadays_ with the "physical distancing"😷arrows at hallways and stairs are mandatory too)
@@MonkeyButtMovies1 - It's more a Royal Anthem; all about the monarch and how wonderful they are grovel-grovel ... and some general beating up "rebellious Scots" - as Billy Connolly said "Oh, do you bloody think so?!" I'm English, btw.
I think the fact that it's *tea* makes it seem like a very British thing however, I think it's the *act* of someone not offering you a refreshment or some form of thanks for you taking time out to go see them that can occasionally offend people. I think tea is the most common offering because pretty much everyone has tea at their house, it's inexpensive, quick to make and generally liked by all xx
It all depends on who they are. In most cases if you know someone all enough then you don't have to ask. I don't drink tea so my friends and family always ask what I would like. It's not a big deal.
What I have observed over the last fifteen years is you are offered a coffee, but if the person is getting on in years you could expect tea to be offered, the coffee usually is an instant coffee. If you are known and a valued visitor it will be real coffee, made in a Cafetiere
You are correct. The approprioate response to 'alright?' is a 'alright?' straight back. It may be permissable to simply nod and smile as long as you look like you mean it. Being from Yorkshire, I am of the opinion it is permissable to say 'eyup' in this situation as well.
"How do" also works, I use it when passing someone on when out hiking, the response is of course "How do" with or without a nod & a smile depending on if it's a nice day or pissing down and/or you are cream crackered.
Interestingly, “all right?” is not the same as “are you all right?” (the word “alright” does not exist). The full form is correctly responded to by “as well as can be expected”.
Eyup works in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire too. In Aberdeen and northeast Scotland the equivalent is ‘Fit like?’, answered by ‘Nae bad ava, fit like yersel?’ I have benne made irrationally angry by Americans who say (with apparently sincere intent and emphasis), ‘How are you?’ And then keep walking past you without waiting for a response.
I fully appreciate the concept of ‘queuing’ first come, first served, it’s a given! But, there can be exceptions to the rule if you are feeling benevolent, or just being, nice. If someone with one or two, or even three or four items, is stood behind me at the checkout as I load up the conveyor belt with a substantial mound of groceries, I always offer to let them go before me. It’s the decent thing to do! Their transaction with the cashier will be of minimal inconvenience to me in the general scheme of things and people are usually very grateful that you have made the offer. I know that I am, if I am the person stood with one or two items in my hand, as they say: “what goes around, comes around.” Of course there are always some people who are not blessed with that same generosity of spirit. And they can go to extraordinary lengths to avoid making any eye contact, despite my close proximity, as I stand there with my very visible minimal purchases. They proceed to unload a full trolley load as I gently seethe behind them. TWATS !!!!
I dont think I'd be offended if they didnt offer a brew. I'd just cut all ties with them immediately Edit note: had no idea how satisfying it would be to hear Eric read "cockwomble"
The first thing I do when I have a visitor is to put the kettle on. I'd have to really dislike someone not to offer the welcome cuppa. PS or a workman there to do a job, rather than a guest in my home. Even so, if the job might take a while, I'll offer eventually.
I don't think I'd be offended, but as per the comment above, my first instinct if someone comes over is "I'll put the kettle on" (and I've been living in the states for 8 years, I still do it)
@@valeriedavidson2785 I love that brew is out of bounds but cockwomble is fair game. Saying brew is more general, it refers to tea, coffee, anything left to brew in hot water. Also it was originally used by you southern fairies.
A passing place is a spot on a very narrow "single track" road which is a spot on the road where two cars are able to squeeze past each other. If you meet a car coming the other way on a single track road, one of you will need to reverse to the nearest passing place with the other following so that they can pass each other. After both of you have gone to all that trouble, the least you can do is wave to thank the other either for reversing to the passing place or patiently following while you reverse to the passing place.
Something that many people do not understand, and is very frustrating for anyone driving behind a slower vehicle, is that passing places are for overtaking as well as crossing in opposite directions If you see a car or several cars behind you that are obviously wanting to go faster, you should pull over in a passing place and let them go by And for overtaking or crossing there is no need to pull into a passing place if there is none convenient on your side of the road (the left); you just stop opposite a passing place on the other side, and the other cars can use that You can travel fairly quickly on a single track road if everyone knows the rules, but it only takes one ignoramus to mess up the whole system
The technique is to look well ahead and get into a passing place in plenty of time, even if you have to wait a while, rather than meeting head on and struggling Ans as many of these single track roads are steep, you should give way to traffic coming uphill
Oh yes, this sort of a wave can be an example of British Understatement, so look carefully for it - sometimes all you get is for the driver's index finger to be raised slightly off the steering wheel
@@geoffreyboyling615 Ironically the accident rate on rural roads far exceeds those on urban from lack of defensive driving. Relying on others obeying the rules is a death wish.
Grace seems to really love British culture and feel at home there. She also has a great sense of humor with a touch of Britishness thrown in. Welcome to the UK anytime!
During the first lockdown I had a few occasions where a couple would be walking side by side and taking up the whole pavement making me step into the road to social distance. I would say”you’re welcome”very loudly😤
Undertaking on the motorway or hogging the middle lane. If I’m in the left lane and someone is going slower, hogging the middle lane, I’ll always make a point of indicating properly, going into the middle, then the third lane, overtaking and then going all the way back into the left lane to show that’s where they should be if they’re not over taking anyone!
When did que jumping become ok? Surly it’s just common sense you wait your turn. Why would it be ok for someone to just butt in front of you like some sort of royalty.
A little while back a French couple asked me if they could jump in front at a Sainsburys checkout. Although voting to remain, the Farage came out in me. I stated quite clearly 'This is Britain, we queue!'. Would I have let them jump in front if they were British? Not on your nelly.
@lewi Lewis depends if they were asking coz they just wanted to get out quicker ,which I don’t believe any sane person would do, but if your standing behind someone with a huge shopping trolley and you only have 1 or 2 items then it’s ok to ask to que jump as it dosnt really hold you up and it’s only polite to ask the person with one item if they want to go ahead. If I see someone behind me with only one item then I always offer, sometimes they say it’s ok and wait others thankyou and go ahead. Common sense
@@supersparks9466 TBH Sparks, I was being an arsehole. It'd been a stressful day, my trolley was over flowing, they only had a basket. BUT...what's wrong with the self checkout or the 'baskets only' cashiers? The liberty ! 'Rule Britannia...'
another couple of ways to reply to 'Alright?'. "Alright?" "i'm alright, it's all the others" - my late mothers 'go to' or "Alright" "yeah, not bad, you?" - the 'yeah' has to be said with a weary chuckle implying there is indeed shit going on that you, the asker, are not equipped to deal with so i'll just say yeah and chuckle safe in the knowledge that we both understand i'm letting you off easy by not actually sharing..
As an Englishman, I have to say this made me grin widely all the way through :). Also, whilst not infallible, never underestimate the power of a good tut if someone queue jumps - and if there is a granny on hand to go into bat for you, let her at 'em! It is a finely graduated escalation: open fire with a tut, catch the eye of the nearby granny who verbally berates the jumper, if the jumper cuts up testy with the granny then any suitably burly fellow in the queue now has liberty to enforce order! :chuckles:
The whole teeth thing gets me going. I find the unnaturally straight teeth look just makes me think of smarmy gameshow hosts and just gives me a prejudiced view of the person as insincere. Think Graham Chapman in "The Meaning of Life!"
I also felt torn between laughter and horror when the Friends programme with Ross getting his teeth whitened was aired. But now my British dentist is offering teeth whitening and I have to tell him thar I prefer British ivory to Hollywood fluorescent.
@@lesleyhawes6895 My ex husband who had quirky but charming overlapping front teeth was whipped off to the orthodontist by his American second wife during her makeover of him, to be whitened and straightened. As he's aged, his teeth have retained a totally plastic arctic whiteness. Fine in photos but in real life???
A few years ago the World Health Organisation ranked the UK #1 in the world for dental hygiene, as the average Brit has fewer fillings or missing teeth than anyone else. We definitely don't have the same emphasis on making them shiny white and uniform, but this has become much more popular in the decades since The Simpsons unveiled the Big Book of British Smiles.
I imagine the reputation for bad teeth in Britain probably stems from our twin passions of tea and sugar, at the height of the empire both of these products were probably significantly cheaper and more available to all classes than in other parts of Europe. Analysis of skeletons from before colonisation of the Americas show very good teeth in all classes.
I always thought it was because in the olden days most British people abroad were sailors. Same reason they call us 'Limey' because sailors would eat limes to keep scurvy at bay.
@@stephenporter5796 - also, dentures were made from the teeth of soldiers who fell in battle in the napoleonic war era... hence the term 'Waterloo Teeth'
Lol! When I first moved to England and people would say “alright” .. I would always give my life story🤣🤣 it wasn’t until it was actually explained to me that I stopped doing it! Love your content! 😊👍🏻
In Australia, the British often get caught out in the same way. The standard Aussie greeting (apart from G'day, of course) is "How are ya?". It's a question that doesn't require or expect an answer, although the standard response is "Good" - serving as a nod of acknowledgement rather than an accurate estimate of one's health or an assertion of moral probity.
I see Grace likes her double entendre jokes. It's very charming and very British. I'd love to see your reaction to the old British Carry On films, like Carry On Doctor or Carry On Up The Khyber.
The blitz spirit , for example , when your shop has had the front ripped off because of a 1000lb bomb but you continue to work there with a sign outside stating the shop is " more open than usual "
@@WanderingRavens I don't object to other countries adopting English as their primary language and modifying it to suit themselves, then adding their country to the name of it, such as 'American English'. What I do object to is being told that I speak British English. I speak English, it's the language of the English people, the fact that the other two countries of Britain adopted it as their primary language does not make it equally theirs under the banner of 'British English'. They can say that they speak English, or modify it and say that they speak Welsh English and Scottish English if they want to, I don't care, but there's no such thing as British English.
If someone says "you alright" to me I generally nod and say "alright" back to them, to me it's an acknowledgment of the other person's prescence. I don't like people queue jumping but the only thing I do is glare at them or make a quiet tutting sound (that's also very British). If you're driving and stop to let oncoming traffic through (if there are roadworks, or it's a passing place on a narrow road etc) I get annoyed if the other person doesn't give any sort of acknowledgment gesture (a nod or a wave).
Fun fact: my uncle uses a false name when he orders at the Chinese take-away. His real name is Mr Allwright, but when he placed his order and they asked for his name, he would say "Allwright", and they would say "Yes, alright, but can I have your name please?". So now he just goes by the pseudonym of Mr Wright, it's easier.
well dont rush then. I get it you feel obliged to (as would I) but its their choice to open the door. I have done it myself (held the door at too long of a range) but if I see someone hurry I say 'its ok take your time' in the most genuine way possible. Nobody really wins that one- cos you made someone rush and feel bad and they feel bad for having to rush. If you dont rush just be sure to say thanks.
As a sales assistant the top thing to annoy me is not saying thank you after at the end of the sale, I will always mutter under my breath "you're welcome" and act as if you are the rudest person in the world
You're telling me. I always offer coffee as it's quicker to make than tea and they'll be out of my house that much sooner. I'm not very sociable. Actually, while I'm here, my teeth are ****ing awful.
The Bltz Spirit refers to WW2. The blitz, from blitzkrieg which what like shock and awe in modern term. So the bombing of London was refered to as the blitz, people just sheltered at night and then went about living their lifes as normal during the day, as if nothing had happened, and that is the blitz spirit.
@@Coni2009 thank you for your reply, beat me to it, looks like a bit of, it only happened in the south attitude. Coventry springs to mind, Liverpool as well, even Bath was hit, and that didn't have any industry, think a look at history books, or for santa to of delivered one would be a good idea
This is the image that always comes to mind when the Blitz Spirit comes up - www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/the-milkman-the-story-behind-blitz.html
@@johnwynne2179 There were about 500 bombing raids in Scotland too. Aberdeen was one of the first cities to get bombed in June 1940. Clydebank got flattened.
i am from bristol in england and one thing that annoy's us is when people call us welsh or pirates. We did have a massive pirate history with people like blackbeard being from bristol. We also say the curse word "Cunt" Alot in out speech and its not usually used in an offensive mannor
The C word is always offensive and is used to belittle women, so you probably deserve to be called pirates, if you use it a lot. Welsh, however, is too high praise for any English creature.
When it comes to the "Americans Opinionating On Britain" genre of RUclipsrs, and I'm subscribed to quite a few, you guys are very good at it! You generally nail it intelligently, with good humour and without condescension. Also your chemistry as a couple is adorable and I look forward to my little Grace cheek kisses every episode.
The blitz spirit is where people help each other out in hard times. So helping each other through a crisis. The blitz spirit is often invoked when there’s a flood or something like that and people pitch in to help out those who are affected even if they might be affected themselves.
@@WanderingRavens , The reason smokers smoke right outside the building it is illegal inside public buildings and public transport vehicles, so they have to take their breaks outside.
"Feck" is used by Irish people in EXACTLY the same way that we Brits use a very similar word with a different vowel. But somehow a court was persuaded that "feck" is not a swear word. And my response to "alright" is "I'm fine. You?"
The hand-wave "thank you" isn't just for drivers; I'll lift a hand in thanks when a car stops to let me cross the road. Or I nod to them, to acknowledge their courtesy; when someone going into or out of a shop in front of me holds the door for me or if I'm walking along a pavement and someone moves aside to give me room to pass - I nod and smile to say "I saw what you did and I appreciate it." Not to acknowledge such courtesy is extremely rude. [] Teeth. Most American teeth I've seen look exactly the same, like piano keys - perfectly aligned, unnaturally straight and so unnaturally white you need to wear dark glasses to avoid the glare when they smile. No individuality, no personality. PS: I get particularly annoyed with a RUclips ad [that repeats far too often] for "smile aligners" edit on rewatch: I've often got a lot less shopping than the person in front of me, but it would never occur to me to hover trying to coerce them into letting me go first; neither would I ask outright. If they offer, fine; if they don't, well, they were before me, after all.
Getting in before I've watched the full video, not sure if it's an irrationally thing but I get very annoyed when other drivers, cyclists, walkers, horse riders DON'T (say thanks) show the hand gesture when I've slowed to let them past, moved into the on coming lane, stopped to let them by.
Horse riders usually want both hands on the reins in case the horse gets spooked. Similar with cyclists, there are times when you want both hands on the handlebars.
@@speleokeir as a cyclist I agree there are times you need both hands on the handlebars, but few and far between are times where lifting one hand from the bars for 1-2 seconds would cause problems
On Occasions. Also if some one says you know what I mean to often for your liking Reply Seldom if ever it relay messes with them and makes them think before they speak ie pauses breath think speak. The most annoying is when some one is asked a qustion only they cab answer and you know what i mean features more than anything eg most (not all) Football (soccer) Players Match of the Day is a night Mare for it
I was once in a Sainsbury's (in England) and another English person rammed into me with the trolley. I said sorry, she said "it's okay" ...... the sheer arrogance.
I started watching your videos over a year ago, and today I'm angry - well maybe just annoyed - that for the first time I can remember the video has been interrupted by not one but two adverts!! This is the first one I've watched in a while though. When did Grace get her hair cut - I preferred it longer?!
Next is a store that sells mainly clothing but also some household good. The Blitz spirit usually means togetherness, everyone in the same situation looking out for each other. When people used to queue up for basic essentials during the war they did it in good spirit no pushing or shoving ( although I would imagine there may of been the odd scuffle). XxxHappy New Year to you both. Xxx❤️🇬🇧😍😘
the teeth thing probably has a lot to do with rationing. waving in return for someone giving you right of way is courteous acknowledgement, anyone complaining about Sunday roast obviously is so privileged that someone else always cooks one for them
Here in the UK some of the country roads although being two way are only wide enough for one car so there are passing places spaced out along the road so if you meet an oncoming car so who ever is the closest to the passing place pulls in to allow the oncoming car to pass. So it is common curtise to wave thanks as you pass. The same is if someone let's you out from a side street into busy traffic
Opposite of what you asked but when you let someone out and they not only put their hand up but also put hazards on for two blinks, honestly keeps people going 😆
Regarding thank yous to letting you go by, sometimes the opposite can happen. You say thank you to the driver letting you through and you'll see a thank you wave back even though they were the one letting you through. This is the "Thank You for saying Thank You" wave. I actually do it myself when people thank me for letting them through. Its very British.
A passing place is on a single track road - so someone has to pull over, maybe reverse, so you can both go on your way. I live in a rural area where the reverse can be 100m/yds, and i get very pissed off if they don't wave "thank you" (to which I always respond in kind). But what really really pisses me off is people in expensive immaculate SUVs who try to force my car into the hedge so they don't get mud on their tyres. Grrrrrrrrr
Living in a semi rural area I know your pain. The local roads are narrow and not built for the amount of traffic on them. A large tractor recently pulled out on me forcing me to reverse over a narrow bridge nearly taking the side of my car out with his huge trailer. Some choice words were uttered.
Hey Grace and Eric , greetings from Australia. It might surprise you to know that 'stiff upper lip' was originally American, apparently. Your vids are great - thanks
The 'Blitz Spirit' was a lot of things, as you said the saving things and what they would call 'make do and mend' but not only that; it was also very much community spirit; helping each other and letting our enemies know they couldn't break us.
Offering a brew (tea or coffee) is very british and we get offended if not offered one - even if we're not interested in one ^^ it's a principle thing. EDIT: We are very aware this is a british thing and do not expect anyone else abide by our unspoken rules - you all get a pass ^.^
If someone says 'You Alright' to me, I usually just reply with a 'Yeah fine, you?'. Usually this is a greeting in passing with someone and you don't have time for a conversation. If you let another car pass after you have stopped to do so, i expect a 'thanks' wave. This is just good manners. I just see the other driver as ignorant if they don't. Cars have grown in size, where car parking spaces & garages haven't grown at all. My old car used to hang over most parking spaces, & it wasn't even a big car. 'Blitz Spirit' is to do with WW2.
£10 for fish and chips? I non-metaphorically spat my tea out at that price. Must be a southern thing with prices just being generally a lot higher in the south.
The tradition of a Sunday roast has a number of historic justifications: - Sunday being, typically, a non-working day there was more time to prepare the intricate elements in a roast dinner; - also the whole family were able to sit down together for a bigger meal; - the left over potatoes and veg and roasted meat made for a very easy dinner on the following day which meant the mother was able to focus her time on “wash day”: cold cut meat and bubble and squeak was a traditional Monday dinner.
It was also the time when internal family grievances were aired and (hopefully) solved Opinions on what path to take / advice were given too. Oh and "THWACK" Get yer elbows off the table and tuck your wings in !
The parking spaces thing is a real pain in the vernacular. I was at a hotel in Bristol over Hallowe'en, and the hotel car park was incredibly pokey. Parked properly, there was hardly enough space for me to get out of the car, let alone for doors on both sides of the car to open, and my Jaguar suffered a few dings and dents which will cost a pretty penny to remedy, I'll wager. Also, the Blitz spirit refers to a coming together of the populace in resisting a common foe. During the Blitz, British people kept their spirits up by helping each other out in a spirit of defiant unity.
As you may have guessed from a number of those points you covered the two main things in the UK are acknowledgement and politeness, when you walk down a quiet street and pass by the one other person down the street you should give a small nod or a friendly "hey" or "hi" it takes away a lot of tension (especially if it is dark), the other is thing is being polite "sorry" and "thankyou" are SO important it drives me crazy when they are not used. oh and when saying alright to someone you have three responses you can give "fine thanks", "i'm good thanks" or simply say "alright" back.
I’m British but the thing that annoys me is British people getting annoyed at “a British accent” yea there isn’t a definitive British accent but that can be said about any country. Also my accent is “smoggie” the smoggie accent is “a British accent” These people irritate me, I used to be one of those people and I’m ashamed of that
We're glad you don't mind people making references to "a British accent"! We agree that people who get their feathers ruffled by that seem a bit pedantic 😆
@@jillhobson6128 not to be rude but ask yourself would you say they spoke with an american accent or a oregon accent? cos you know america has a lot of accents too. Oh btw, I am british- also you are wrong there is a british accent- it's any accent used in britain, what you are doing is understanding 'a british accent' to mean 'the british accent'.
A cup of tea is such a basic thing to offer and yet so special and important. It's warming and comforting and, because of the wait to cool, an introduction to engage in conversation. It's everything hospitality should be. I feel awkward saying hello to people I don't know but I might smile and give a friendly nod if we mak eye contact.
Holding a hand up as a wave from your car as you have been let through a junction, or a return wave when somebody waved at you for letting them through. Got me in trouble once. A chap stopped his car, waved me down and had a right go at me for being a this and that tourist. Lol. I lived in Greece for years and a direct serious insult is holding your hand up, palm facing a person. It's akin to saying 'dam your eyes' and this is a serious insult in Greece. I had to learn to stop waving a other drivers from my car. Lol.
Next is a very good shop,selling clothes, homeware and furniture. "Karens" is a term that doesn't mean anything here. Please explain. I've known several people called Karen, all very nice so I don't know why it's considered an insult.
@@jillhobson6128 Karen is a pejorative term for women seeming to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The memes depict white women who use their privilege to demand their own way.
I’m not quite old enough to have experienced the “ Blitz” myself, my parents and older brothers did though. When those big brave German pilots were bombing and machine gunning innocent women and children in Britain’s cities in 1940 and 41, just because square heads get off on that kind of thing , communities came together to help , offering spare rooms in their houses to strangers , risking life and limb to help dig victims out of dangerous and unstable bombed houses , providing food out of their own meagre rations and just doing everything they could to help each other out in their hour of need - that’s the “ Blitz Spirit”. By contrast , I saw a newsreel clip of the US 1930s “Dust bowl” - a notice on the highway next to a town in California read “ Oakies stopping here will be shot”
It's all "mood depending" the person who doesn't say thank you or doesnt wave after you let them pass off of a busy road onto your street to get home, could just be having a bad day or is in a rush or they are just a generally rude person in life. And now with socual distancing enforced, and depending on how the queing line in stores or shops are marked out, queue jumping will either be solved or get worse 🤣 Question to Grace...Are you working on a Mid-atlantic accent there? Not heard one of those since Jane Fonda in the 80s. 🤣 Great vid, great to hear from you America, thanks for the love. All the best for the year ahead Love and peace from England. ✌✌✌❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏
Want more British Reddit videos? Watch these next!
🔴 You Know You're British When... (12 Things Brits Do & Say) ruclips.net/video/SK56Z_3STS4/видео.html
🔴 10 Things That Are RUDE In The UK But Polite In Other Countries ruclips.net/video/o7EQkKG6fa0/видео.html
🔴 15 DEAD Giveaways That Someone Is British ruclips.net/video/bimpUi69Cvw/видео.html
2:32 I usually say, "I'm alright, you?"
2:57 Yep I do get very annoyed when someone queue jumps but I feel like its just polite in general not to queue jump?
3:42 I have not heard about these words.
4:28 I am also not sure what they mean XD
4:30 I only get upset if I honestly do think that it was there fault that we bumped into each other and they didn't say sorry back when I say sorry, if I think its my fault I don't mind if they don't say sorry.
5:31 Well it can be used atagonistically if you do it like that but its mainly used if you want someone to move out of your way, so excuse me is a way to say politely please move to someone else.
So with the antagonistic aspect, you essentially saying, move out of my way, when you have ALREADY bumped them out of your way, so yeah in that way it can be seen as antagonistic. Excuse me can also be used to say "What did you say to me?" As well, so if someone says somerthing rude, you can say "excuse me??"
10:56 Next is a clothing store, very popular, you'll see them a lot in the UK.
11: 07 Blitz spirit is essentially about us being prideful of our how we, or more like our grandparends and older lol, dealt with the blitz in world war 2, with the stay calm and carry on thing and the "british morale" holding firm despite the bombings and all that, its essentially us being patritotic when we talk about the "Blitz spirit" However this person is essentially saying, despite you talking about it, you specifically weren't there so don't think you deserve things/entitled to things because of something you didn't do.
Great video as usual :D
The British equivilant to that's "what she said" is, "said the actress to the bishop", you can also say "said the bishop to the actress", so, in turn do you have "that's what he said"?
Biggest thing that makes us *Rationally* angry is getting asked if we are English, the majority of the UK technically is, but no we're not all from England. Thanks for the content though guys!
@Alistair Bolden Good idea!!
@@RadioactiveMatty Oooo! Good one! We should follow this up with a list of rational anger triggers! :D
I get audibly offended if I hold a door for someone or give them the "after you" gesture and they do not say "thank you". I start to be belligerent with "you're welcome! Oh no problem, anytime!" conversations to myself so they can hear me. I should probably just stay quiet but at the time I get so mad
When that happened to me I've said rather loudly "No problem"
If they say "What?" I say, "Sorry, I thought you said Thank You"
or "Don't mention it! oh, you didn't did you?"
yup, i will happily hold a door but you better say thank you else i WILL say something haha
Totally agree. I say a very loud ‘Thank you’
me too: I'll grit my teeth and audibly mutter "YOU'RE WELCOME!" and then under my breath add some swearing
That’s not irrational, it’s correcting bad form
Using the phrase: "Is your kettle broke?" usually corrects a host's failure to offer a brew...
my one is "is it alright if i make myself a cup of tea?" which translates to "you should have offered me a cup of tea a loooong time ago".
"Is your kettle broken?" Haha. Totally. I feel silently annoyed if someone doesn't offer me a cup of tea
I once turned up with t-bags and milk, plonked them on the work top, and asked is the kettle broken, always got a cuppa after that
@@RavenclawStudent123 Right we say 'broken' here. LOL!
@@lazyoldmanathome7699 I did say broken. I say broken too
I get annoyed when American vloggers say "Here we are at London Bridge",when they are standing in front of a sign that says "Tower Bridge".
Haha, so true!! Unfortunately, we actually did that our first time in London xD There's one mistake I'll never make again!!
I used to work in a restaurant right on tower bridge. Oh the amount of tourists I had to correct...
And when they call it London Town.... When it's the city of London 🤷♂️
I guess the Americans don't know that London Bridge was bought by an American and shipped stateside, I believe it is in Arizona.
@@BRIDINC1972 if I remember rightly that was the original London Bridge and it went to a place called Lake Havasu City, Arizona and they thought it was actually Tower Bridge they were buying
If someone doesn’t offer you tea within 5 minutes of entering their house, you should make your excuses and leave - you’ve come at a bad time and they would rather you weren’t there right now.
My answer to "you alright?" is always "yeah, you?" (even if not lol)
I just say "yeah, y'alright"
That's what we all do lol. We're not actually asking... it's just a greeting.
Hmm... when I'm feeling sensitive or borderline depressed I dodge with 'are you?'
I just say "Fine, thanks. Yourself?"
Next is a cheaper clothing shop
Offering a tea when you have a visitor is just polite. I even offer tea to plumbers, electricians etc if they're going to be doing some work in my place.
Yes that’s a given. If have trades men doing work in my property, as much tea as they want. I even make sure I have biscuits on hand!
That's a given, have even left them alone in order to get some food.
I offer tea or coffee even if I know they don't drink either. It's just.. The done thing. "Want a tea, coffee, anything?"
and especially the builders
I felt the need to take tea out to some builders who were building a house down the road.
Blitz spirit refers to the whole "keep calm and carry on" attitude during the blitz bombings in WW2. If someone is said to have blitz spirit these days it means they are stoic and determined in challenging times. On the topic of teeth, funnily enough the UK actually ranks higher than the US in teeth health. It's just that more care is taken in keeping them healthy than the aesthetic of them. Great video as always.
And interestingly enough most of the people who evoke the "Blitz spirit didn't live through it. I celebrate 59 years in this body come January. Both my parents lived through the Blitz in London as teenagers, they would be in their 90s if still alive, and I don't think they would think it was something to celebrate!
My father was a volunteer ambulance driver in the East End during the Blitz and my mother was working in an aircraft factory when it was bombed and the workers strated but I don't remember them ever talking much any blitz spirit.
Today I think the so called 'blitz spirit' is just when a group of people are stuck in a difficult situation, they tend to talk to each other and help out if they can.
Blitz Krieg = Lightning War. The German campaign to bomb London into submission during WW2. Our response was to turn several German cities into firestorms and ashes. But for a while there was a strong sense of fellowship and community between Londoners.
@@neuralwarp - Blitzkrieg actually refers to the fast, offensive strategy, with coordinated ground and air forces, developed and utilised by the German military. Blitz, alone, was the term adopted by the British, for the German bombing campaign against British cities. Particularly London, where the bombings occurred virtually every night, for many months and fairly regularly for the rest of the war. It was actually the German response to our bombing of Berlin, during the Battle of Britain. Although a tragedy for British cities, it was a godsend to the RAF, who were almost on their knees. The Blitz allowed them to rebuild and regroup. The firestorm bombings, of cities like Hamburg and Dresden, didn't occur until towards the end of the war, when the allies had established almost total air supremacy.
@@Codex7777 Liverpool had More bombs dropped on it than London but this was covered up at the time, ( we can take it was stated by some big wig and the scouse reply was yer but your not getting bombed are you ! ) for the morale was breaking down under the nightly raids a secret survey showed.
The car waving thing, what it means is on a narrow road (Wide enough for only one car) or where a line of cars is parked on one side, if someone pulls over to let you come the other way down the road, generally we would put our hand up, or flash our lights to say thankyou.
Oh!! That makes sense! Thanks!
@@WanderingRavens It's not waving, it's a gesture to say thank you
I haven't spent as much time as you Ravens have in the UK, but my cousin lived in rural Somerset, so I guess I spent more time driving on narrow roads and using passing places. My uncle used to drive so fast on those roads and I was amazed someone always managed to pop into a passing place so quick. As you can imagine, I was a bit more cautious. Now I'm trying to remember if folks waved thank you's like that -- and if I did the same when I was driving... Probably? LoL!
@Wandering Ravens There is also the "flashing the hazzard lights" to say thankyou to the car behind for letting you in!
@@knellroy Especially in a van.
When someone says "you alright" never be blatantly positive, i say something like "could be worse", "not bad, cheers"
I say yeah I'm okay thanks and you or something along those lines
We always say "fair to middlin". In the place I grew up we always say What do you know ?
@@hiker70 That was always my mother's reply.
"Mustn't grumble" is my stock reply.
"Yes, thanks". Sometimes we add "thanks for asking or "and yourself"?
Imagine not knowing what a “passing place” is. Such a staple of British driving!
Yep the Very Narrow Roads
It's where drivers may halt briefly and 'make a pass' at the other driver.
@@brianlopez8855 Isn't that called 'Dogging'?
I'm 14 what does it mean
@@maariahussain4414 Reply again when you're 18 :)
When people say we speak posh when most of us are just working class.
Ooooo, good addition!
If you say "posh", you definitely aren't "posh".
"Well-spoken" is the correct term.
@@capitalb5889 I agree i do not usually use those terms (posh) but I do appreciate receiving my errors and hope you had/having a merry season ❤❤
@@WanderingRavens Hardly any of us speak posh
@@jillhobson6128 most of us are working class so we do use different terms than the higher classes
Have a merry season ❤❤
Also here in Seville, in southern Spain, the queue is sacred. You ask who the last person is and there is always a Spanish granny who will enforce it. You don't mess with Spanish grannies!
As a Brit myself, I've never understood the claim that queuing is a paticularly British thing. Americans queue too, I've seen it. What else would they do, just form a large crowd? How does that even work?
@@PiousMoltar Have you ever seen a group of Germans getting on a bus?
How to make Londoner very angry: stand on the left of the escalator.
😂😂
I was on an escalator in the Brussels Metro once and THERE WERE PEOPLE STANDING ON BOTH SIDES. I muttered darkly and tutted all the way to the top.
@@tonywalton1464 hahah in Brussels on a family trip my Dad occupied the width of the station escalator with his suitcase, and the Belgian commuter walking up behind us was confused when Dad didn’t move his suitcase on request (so embarrassing). This wasn’t in the Metro system though, but at main rail station..
So you guys don’t walk down hallways and stairs on the left?
@@Azzazpimp Stairs and hallways have no conventional lane system unless signage or arrows dictate it (but _nowadays_ with the "physical distancing"😷arrows at hallways and stairs are mandatory too)
You hold the door open for some one and they walk through and don’t say thank you I say THANK YOUooooooo 😡nice video x
I hold out my hand and ask for my tip.
I say you're welcome.
Also, when people hold the door open for you when you are halfway down the corridor...I refuse to speed up for them.
Oooo, good one. I hate this!
Or you hold the door open and the whole street then decides to come in
I can't stand people who claim to be British but don't know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody. Merry Christmas! ❤️ Xx
@Violet I'm Welsh so I don't know God Save the Queen. Then again I can't get the hang of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau either because I don't speak Welsh.
@Violet It's the English Nation Anthem.
We know all the words!! :D
@@WanderingRavens Including verse 6? Tip - Don't sing it n Scotland.
@@MonkeyButtMovies1 - It's more a Royal Anthem; all about the monarch and how wonderful they are grovel-grovel ... and some general beating up "rebellious Scots" - as Billy Connolly said "Oh, do you bloody think so?!"
I'm English, btw.
I think the fact that it's *tea* makes it seem like a very British thing however, I think it's the *act* of someone not offering you a refreshment or some form of thanks for you taking time out to go see them that can occasionally offend people. I think tea is the most common offering because pretty much everyone has tea at their house, it's inexpensive, quick to make and generally liked by all xx
Yeah, where I am now coffee would be expected. And it really would be kind of rude not offering it...
It all depends on who they are. In most cases if you know someone all enough then you don't have to ask. I don't drink tea so my friends and family always ask what I would like. It's not a big deal.
@@meryuk I think in the UK it is quite common when someone arrives to just ask "tea or coffee?" Also "what would you like to drink?"
@@trickygoose2 👍
What I have observed over the last fifteen years is you are offered a coffee, but if the person is getting on in years you could expect tea to be offered, the coffee usually is an instant coffee. If you are known and a valued visitor it will be real coffee, made in a Cafetiere
You are correct. The approprioate response to 'alright?' is a 'alright?' straight back. It may be permissable to simply nod and smile as long as you look like you mean it. Being from Yorkshire, I am of the opinion it is permissable to say 'eyup' in this situation as well.
"How do" also works, I use it when passing someone on when out hiking, the response is of course "How do" with or without a nod & a smile depending on if it's a nice day or pissing down and/or you are cream crackered.
Interestingly, “all right?” is not the same as “are you all right?” (the word “alright” does not exist). The full form is correctly responded to by “as well as can be expected”.
Eyup works in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire too. In Aberdeen and northeast Scotland the equivalent is ‘Fit like?’, answered by ‘Nae bad ava, fit like yersel?’ I have benne made irrationally angry by Americans who say (with apparently sincere intent and emphasis), ‘How are you?’ And then keep walking past you without waiting for a response.
From Lancashire and I typically use both eyup and reyt.
The normal polite reply to "Alright" is "OK... You?"
I fully appreciate the concept of ‘queuing’ first come, first served, it’s a given! But, there can be exceptions to the rule if you are feeling benevolent, or just being, nice. If someone with one or two, or even three or four items, is stood behind me at the checkout as I load up the conveyor belt with a substantial mound of groceries, I always offer to let them go before me. It’s the decent thing to do! Their transaction with the cashier will be of minimal inconvenience to me in the general scheme of things and people are usually very grateful that you have made the offer. I know that I am, if I am the person stood with one or two items in my hand, as they say: “what goes around, comes around.”
Of course there are always some people who are not blessed with that same generosity of spirit. And they can go to extraordinary lengths to avoid making any eye contact, despite my close proximity, as I stand there with my very visible minimal purchases. They proceed to unload a full trolley load as I gently seethe behind them. TWATS !!!!
Thanks for my first Wandering Ravens ‘Heart’ response, I am sincerely ‘Chuffed’ have a safe and wonderful 2021.
I dont think I'd be offended if they didnt offer a brew. I'd just cut all ties with them immediately
Edit note: had no idea how satisfying it would be to hear Eric read "cockwomble"
The first thing I do when I have a visitor is to put the kettle on. I'd have to really dislike someone not to offer the welcome cuppa.
PS or a workman there to do a job, rather than a guest in my home. Even so, if the job might take a while, I'll offer eventually.
I don't think I'd be offended, but as per the comment above, my first instinct if someone comes over is "I'll put the kettle on" (and I've been living in the states for 8 years, I still do it)
Cockwomble!! 😂
Talking about a 'brew' is rather a Northern expression and I think it is horrible.
@@valeriedavidson2785 I love that brew is out of bounds but cockwomble is fair game. Saying brew is more general, it refers to tea, coffee, anything left to brew in hot water. Also it was originally used by you southern fairies.
If someone I know says “Alright” to me I often reply “No, I’m half left”
Yeah that should go on the list....
My mates do that, it does my head in!
I do that to.
My brother does that, it makes me want to slap him.
I say, '' I'm a third in the middle''
Eric, there’s a difference between Cretans and cretins🤣
But there will be Cretan cretins
I.e. the pronunciation of "cretin" should rhyme with "get in".
@@tommywulfric9768 Indeed... But not according to The Ramones !
@@tommywulfric9768 Agreed...and it should be used with great care, as it literally means 'retarded' which is a real 'no no' word in the UK
These two are definitely both the latter.
A passing place is a spot on a very narrow "single track" road which is a spot on the road where two cars are able to squeeze past each other. If you meet a car coming the other way on a single track road, one of you will need to reverse to the nearest passing place with the other following so that they can pass each other. After both of you have gone to all that trouble, the least you can do is wave to thank the other either for reversing to the passing place or patiently following while you reverse to the passing place.
Ah, thank you for explaining! Now that comment makes sense - you absolutely should do the wave there!
Something that many people do not understand, and is very frustrating for anyone driving behind a slower vehicle, is that passing places are for overtaking as well as crossing in opposite directions
If you see a car or several cars behind you that are obviously wanting to go faster, you should pull over in a passing place and let them go by
And for overtaking or crossing there is no need to pull into a passing place if there is none convenient on your side of the road (the left); you just stop opposite a passing place on the other side, and the other cars can use that
You can travel fairly quickly on a single track road if everyone knows the rules, but it only takes one ignoramus to mess up the whole system
The technique is to look well ahead and get into a passing place in plenty of time, even if you have to wait a while, rather than meeting head on and struggling
Ans as many of these single track roads are steep, you should give way to traffic coming uphill
Oh yes, this sort of a wave can be an example of British Understatement, so look carefully for it - sometimes all you get is for the driver's index finger to be raised slightly off the steering wheel
@@geoffreyboyling615 Ironically the accident rate on rural roads far exceeds those on urban from lack of defensive driving. Relying on others obeying the rules is a death wish.
Grace seems to really love British culture and feel at home there. She also has a great sense of humor with a touch of Britishness thrown in. Welcome to the UK anytime!
Thank you!! Can't wait to go back!
She does indeed, they are both cool dudes though. My favourite Americans on RUclips talking about British culture by far.
You spelt Humour as Humor, they would probably welcome you over there,
@@MarkFarm We appreciate you Mark! x
@Violet Aww! Thank you, Violet! x
During the first lockdown I had a few occasions where a couple would be walking side by side and taking up the whole pavement making me step into the road to social distance. I would say”you’re welcome”very loudly😤
Irks me when a couple doesn't automatically single file when they see you coming, BUT when they do we all shyly smile at each other hahaha
Undertaking on the motorway or hogging the middle lane. If I’m in the left lane and someone is going slower, hogging the middle lane, I’ll always make a point of indicating properly, going into the middle, then the third lane, overtaking and then going all the way back into the left lane to show that’s where they should be if they’re not over taking anyone!
"Britishism?" It's English, our language. Smiling at you through gritted teeth. Good teeth I'll have you know!
Oi bruv
i mean that could just be very british centric phrases that are different from the main language like slang terms it depends on context
When did que jumping become ok? Surly it’s just common sense you wait your turn. Why would it be ok for someone to just butt in front of you like some sort of royalty.
Right?? We HATE queue jumpers!!
A little while back a French couple asked me if they could jump in front at a Sainsburys checkout. Although voting to remain, the Farage came out in me. I stated quite clearly 'This is Britain, we queue!'. Would I have let them jump in front if they were British? Not on your nelly.
@lewi Lewis depends if they were asking coz they just wanted to get out quicker ,which I don’t believe any sane person would do, but if your standing behind someone with a huge shopping trolley and you only have 1 or 2 items then it’s ok to ask to que jump as it dosnt really hold you up and it’s only polite to ask the person with one item if they want to go ahead. If I see someone behind me with only one item then I always offer, sometimes they say it’s ok and wait others thankyou and go ahead. Common sense
@@supersparks9466 TBH Sparks, I was being an arsehole. It'd been a stressful day, my trolley was over flowing, they only had a basket. BUT...what's wrong with the self checkout or the 'baskets only' cashiers? The liberty !
'Rule Britannia...'
@@lewilewis3944 The funny thing is "queue" is a french word. It means tail.
People using to when they mean too. 😠
another couple of ways to reply to 'Alright?'.
"Alright?"
"i'm alright, it's all the others" - my late mothers 'go to'
or
"Alright"
"yeah, not bad, you?" - the 'yeah' has to be said with a weary chuckle implying there is indeed shit going on that you, the asker, are not equipped to deal with so i'll just say yeah and chuckle safe in the knowledge that we both understand i'm letting you off easy by not actually sharing..
I’m from Scotland and so I make it easier and shorter to say and say “yawrite” 😂
Spot on 😂
"alright"
"no, i'm half left"
@@VideoDeadGaming are you a doughnut or a meringue ??? Nope your definitely a doughnut
@@VideoDeadGaming
quality.
If someone says “alright”, I just say “yes thanks, are you”
Used teabags in the sink has been the result of many stand up rows
😂😂
Squeezing teabags out with your hand is another 😐
As an Englishman, I have to say this made me grin widely all the way through :). Also, whilst not infallible, never underestimate the power of a good tut if someone queue jumps - and if there is a granny on hand to go into bat for you, let her at 'em! It is a finely graduated escalation: open fire with a tut, catch the eye of the nearby granny who verbally berates the jumper, if the jumper cuts up testy with the granny then any suitably burly fellow in the queue now has liberty to enforce order! :chuckles:
The whole teeth thing gets me going. I find the unnaturally straight teeth look just makes me think of smarmy gameshow hosts and just gives me a prejudiced view of the person as insincere. Think Graham Chapman in "The Meaning of Life!"
I also felt torn between laughter and horror when the Friends programme with Ross getting his teeth whitened was aired. But now my British dentist is offering teeth whitening and I have to tell him thar I prefer British ivory to Hollywood fluorescent.
@@lesleyhawes6895 My ex husband who had quirky but charming overlapping front teeth was whipped off to the orthodontist by his American second wife during her makeover of him, to be whitened and straightened. As he's aged, his teeth have retained a totally plastic arctic whiteness. Fine in photos but in real life???
A few years ago the World Health Organisation ranked the UK #1 in the world for dental hygiene, as the average Brit has fewer fillings or missing teeth than anyone else. We definitely don't have the same emphasis on making them shiny white and uniform, but this has become much more popular in the decades since The Simpsons unveiled the Big Book of British Smiles.
I imagine the reputation for bad teeth in Britain probably stems from our twin passions of tea and sugar, at the height of the empire both of these products were probably significantly cheaper and more available to all classes than in other parts of Europe. Analysis of skeletons from before colonisation of the Americas show very good teeth in all classes.
@@jonathanmorgan1882 Another explanation is WW2: Americans coming in contact more with the British, before the days of NHS dental care.
British dentistry is much improved - we used to make our dentures out of wood
I always thought it was because in the olden days most British people abroad were sailors.
Same reason they call us 'Limey' because sailors would eat limes to keep scurvy at bay.
@@stephenporter5796 - also, dentures were made from the teeth of soldiers who fell in battle in the napoleonic war era... hence the term 'Waterloo Teeth'
OMG! So great! I NEED to see the two of ypu go through this list with Joel and Lia! I think we need a zoom date for the 4 of you!!!!
Lol! When I first moved to England and people would say “alright” .. I would always give my life story🤣🤣 it wasn’t until it was actually explained to me that I stopped doing it! Love your content! 😊👍🏻
In Australia, the British often get caught out in the same way. The standard Aussie greeting (apart from G'day, of course) is "How are ya?". It's a question that doesn't require or expect an answer, although the standard response is "Good" - serving as a nod of acknowledgement rather than an accurate estimate of one's health or an assertion of moral probity.
The mum probably only got offended at not getting tea because its her daughter but she would probably be more forgiving for someone else
I see Grace likes her double entendre jokes. It's very charming and very British. I'd love to see your reaction to the old British Carry On films, like Carry On Doctor or Carry On Up The Khyber.
I thought the same thing ....ooh matron!
I don't recommend anyone watch any of the Carry On films ever.
@@PiousMoltar :adds name to deportation list: :p
Just watched a load of stuff from these guys. Brilliant. Loved it. Subscribed! They'd do well on British TV. Cheers JH (Cumbria) :)
The blitz spirit , for example , when your shop has had the front ripped off because of a 1000lb bomb but you continue to work there with a sign outside stating the shop is " more open than usual "
What makes me IRRATIONALLY ANGRY, American English, there is no such thing, there is English and there is being wrong!!
Oh noooo!! You're one of those! 😂
@@WanderingRavens No. He is mean. You guys speak perfectly acceptable English. And I teach it for a living.
I could care less about this..
@@WanderingRavens I don't object to other countries adopting English as their primary language and modifying it to suit themselves, then adding their country to the name of it, such as 'American English'. What I do object to is being told that I speak British English. I speak English, it's the language of the English people, the fact that the other two countries of Britain adopted it as their primary language does not make it equally theirs under the banner of 'British English'. They can say that they speak English, or modify it and say that they speak Welsh English and Scottish English if they want to, I don't care, but there's no such thing as British English.
@@GoneToHelenBach Spot on! There is no such thing as British English!
If someone says "you alright" to me I generally nod and say "alright" back to them, to me it's an acknowledgment of the other person's prescence. I don't like people queue jumping but the only thing I do is glare at them or make a quiet tutting sound (that's also very British). If you're driving and stop to let oncoming traffic through (if there are roadworks, or it's a passing place on a narrow road etc) I get annoyed if the other person doesn't give any sort of acknowledgment gesture (a nod or a wave).
Not sure how I came across your channel, glad i did thou. They're enjoyable.
Fun fact: my uncle uses a false name when he orders at the Chinese take-away. His real name is Mr Allwright, but when he placed his order and they asked for his name, he would say "Allwright", and they would say "Yes, alright, but can I have your name please?". So now he just goes by the pseudonym of Mr Wright, it's easier.
That made me laugh!
People opening the door for me when I'm about 5 meters away, and me having to rush to the door to not seem impolite gets me reeeeaallll irritated
well dont rush then. I get it you feel obliged to (as would I) but its their choice to open the door. I have done it myself (held the door at too long of a range) but if I see someone hurry I say 'its ok take your time' in the most genuine way possible. Nobody really wins that one- cos you made someone rush and feel bad and they feel bad for having to rush.
If you dont rush just be sure to say thanks.
It's worse when they don't hold the door. I get so angry when people let a door shut in my face.
As a sales assistant the top thing to annoy me is not saying thank you after at the end of the sale, I will always mutter under my breath "you're welcome" and act as if you are the rudest person in the world
Offering someone a cup of tea when they come over is inviting them to stay for more than 3 minutes
You're telling me. I always offer coffee as it's quicker to make than tea and they'll be out of my house that much sooner.
I'm not very sociable.
Actually, while I'm here, my teeth are ****ing awful.
When in a car, if someone let's you go at a junction you raise your hand to say thanks, or if you are crossing a road and someone let's you go
The Bltz Spirit refers to WW2. The blitz, from blitzkrieg which what like shock and awe in modern term. So the bombing of London was refered to as the blitz, people just sheltered at night and then went about living their lifes as normal during the day, as if nothing had happened, and that is the blitz spirit.
Not just London. The blitz campaign included ports and major industrial cities throughout the UK.
@@Coni2009 thank you for your reply, beat me to it, looks like a bit of, it only happened in the south attitude. Coventry springs to mind, Liverpool as well, even Bath was hit, and that didn't have any industry, think a look at history books, or for santa to of delivered one would be a good idea
Not just london all major cities In uk Bristol Plymouth liverpool port city's got hit hard too
This is the image that always comes to mind when the Blitz Spirit comes up - www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-ii/the-milkman-the-story-behind-blitz.html
@@johnwynne2179 There were about 500 bombing raids in Scotland too. Aberdeen was one of the first cities to get bombed in June 1940. Clydebank got flattened.
i am from bristol in england and one thing that annoy's us is when people call us welsh or pirates. We did have a massive pirate history with people like blackbeard being from bristol. We also say the curse word "Cunt" Alot in out speech and its not usually used in an offensive mannor
Grrrr aphorised plurals!!
Get a grip, you Welsh Pirate. :-)
The C word is always offensive and is used to belittle women, so you probably deserve to be called pirates, if you use it a lot. Welsh, however, is too high praise for any English creature.
'Are you alright?' 'Yeah.........fair to middling'. :)
Good to see you both looking well! Happy new year!
Being in France and the French criticizing the Queen - I have almost come to blows over this
The French are just sad they ain't British
Wow.. You went to the uk and haven't seen a Next. 😲
When it comes to the "Americans Opinionating On Britain" genre of RUclipsrs, and I'm subscribed to quite a few, you guys are very good at it! You generally nail it intelligently, with good humour and without condescension. Also your chemistry as a couple is adorable and I look forward to my little Grace cheek kisses every episode.
Aww! Thank you for the kind words, Derek! We're so glad you're enjoying our channel! I'll keep the cheek kisses coming ;D
The blitz spirit is where people help each other out in hard times. So helping each other through a crisis. The blitz spirit is often invoked when there’s a flood or something like that and people pitch in to help out those who are affected even if they might be affected themselves.
Love Grace's hair!!!
Thank you, Amy!! x
Eric's hair is amazing.....
@@david-lt9wj Thanks, David!!
@@WanderingRavens , The reason smokers smoke right outside the building it is illegal inside public buildings and public transport vehicles, so they have to take their breaks outside.
"Feck" is used by Irish people in EXACTLY the same way that we Brits use a very similar word with a different vowel. But somehow a court was persuaded that "feck" is not a swear word.
And my response to "alright" is "I'm fine. You?"
Plus it lets tv programs swear without really swearing to avoid censorship
as a person from leeds, cool to hear you guys have been here!
Awesome video. I hope you are doing well Wandering Ravens.
I have in the past called a friend a “feckless cockwombble” in the past, but I am an Englishman and the situation did demand it...
The hand-wave "thank you" isn't just for drivers; I'll lift a hand in thanks when a car stops to let me cross the road.
Or I nod to them, to acknowledge their courtesy; when someone going into or out of a shop in front of me holds the door for me or if I'm walking along a pavement and someone moves aside to give me room to pass - I nod and smile to say "I saw what you did and I appreciate it."
Not to acknowledge such courtesy is extremely rude.
[] Teeth. Most American teeth I've seen look exactly the same, like piano keys - perfectly aligned, unnaturally straight and so unnaturally white you need to wear dark glasses to avoid the glare when they smile. No individuality, no personality.
PS: I get particularly annoyed with a RUclips ad [that repeats far too often] for "smile aligners"
edit on rewatch: I've often got a lot less shopping than the person in front of me, but it would never occur to me to hover trying to coerce them into letting me go first; neither would I ask outright. If they offer, fine; if they don't, well, they were before me, after all.
Happy new year Ravens. Best wishes to you both.
"Y' alright ?"; "Aye, not so bad, ta, you ?"
Getting in before I've watched the full video, not sure if it's an irrationally thing but I get very annoyed when other drivers, cyclists, walkers, horse riders DON'T (say thanks) show the hand gesture when I've slowed to let them past, moved into the on coming lane, stopped to let them by.
Ooooo!!! You're going to enjoy this video ;D
@@WanderingRavens haha pretty much as soon as I posted my comment that part came up on the video 🤣
@@Matthew-Wood85 Perfect timing 🤣🤣
Horse riders usually want both hands on the reins in case the horse gets spooked. Similar with cyclists, there are times when you want both hands on the handlebars.
@@speleokeir as a cyclist I agree there are times you need both hands on the handlebars, but few and far between are times where lifting one hand from the bars for 1-2 seconds would cause problems
When someone says “you alright?” to me, I’ll generally respond with “half left.”
😂😂
On Occasions. Also if some one says you know what I mean to often for your liking Reply Seldom if ever it relay messes with them and makes them think before they speak ie pauses breath think speak. The most annoying is when some one is asked a qustion only they cab answer and you know what i mean features more than anything eg most (not all) Football (soccer) Players Match of the Day is a night Mare for it
I was once in a Sainsbury's (in England) and another English person rammed into me with the trolley. I said sorry, she said "it's okay" ...... the sheer arrogance.
I'm utterly furious you would made a video like this on Boxing Day( I'm English btw)
PS merry xmas
Blitz spirit is "keep calm and carry on" in the face of trouble
Plus pulling together as a community united in shared adverse circumstances.
What gets my goat is when I hold a door open for someone, and they blank me!! Just a smile would do, it makes me want to throw them back out the door!
Me too, arrogant sods. I would never not thank a person holding a door open for me.
The correct response it to loudly say “thank you” so that they hear - but hurry on your way to avoid the indignant retaliation.
It gets to me too....i just say Thankyou very loudly lol.
I started watching your videos over a year ago, and today I'm angry - well maybe just annoyed - that for the first time I can remember the video has been interrupted by not one but two adverts!! This is the first one I've watched in a while though. When did Grace get her hair cut - I preferred it longer?!
Next is a store that sells mainly clothing but also some household good. The Blitz spirit usually means togetherness, everyone in the same situation looking out for each other. When people used to queue up for basic essentials during the war they did it in good spirit no pushing or shoving ( although I would imagine there may of been the odd scuffle). XxxHappy New Year to you both. Xxx❤️🇬🇧😍😘
the teeth thing probably has a lot to do with rationing. waving in return for someone giving you right of way is courteous acknowledgement, anyone complaining about Sunday roast obviously is so privileged that someone else always cooks one for them
Here in the UK some of the country roads although being two way are only wide enough for one car so there are passing places spaced out along the road so if you meet an oncoming car so who ever is the closest to the passing place pulls in to allow the oncoming car to pass. So it is common curtise to wave thanks as you pass. The same is if someone let's you out from a side street into busy traffic
Oh!! That makes sense! Thank you!
"yalright" "yeah, sound fella", "freezing innit", "yeah, brass monkeys mate" - conversation ends...
Yalright? Fresh'un innit? Ah.
Opposite of what you asked but when you let someone out and they not only put their hand up but also put hazards on for two blinks, honestly keeps people going 😆
Regarding thank yous to letting you go by, sometimes the opposite can happen. You say thank you to the driver letting you through and you'll see a thank you wave back even though they were the one letting you through. This is the "Thank You for saying Thank You" wave. I actually do it myself when people thank me for letting them through. Its very British.
Yes,I get a bit miffed if I don't get a wave for my wave.
A passing place is on a single track road - so someone has to pull over, maybe reverse, so you can both go on your way. I live in a rural area where the reverse can be 100m/yds, and i get very pissed off if they don't wave "thank you" (to which I always respond in kind). But what really really pisses me off is people in expensive immaculate SUVs who try to force my car into the hedge so they don't get mud on their tyres. Grrrrrrrrr
Living in a semi rural area I know your pain. The local roads are narrow and not built for the amount of traffic on them. A large tractor recently pulled out on me forcing me to reverse over a narrow bridge nearly taking the side of my car out with his huge trailer. Some choice words were uttered.
Hey Grace and Eric , greetings from Australia. It might surprise you to know that 'stiff upper lip' was originally American, apparently. Your vids are great - thanks
The 'Blitz Spirit' was a lot of things, as you said the saving things and what they would call 'make do and mend' but not only that; it was also very much community spirit; helping each other and letting our enemies know they couldn't break us.
Offering a brew (tea or coffee) is very british and we get offended if not offered one - even if we're not interested in one ^^ it's a principle thing.
EDIT: We are very aware this is a british thing and do not expect anyone else abide by our unspoken rules - you all get a pass ^.^
Love your videos.
Thank you, Bridie!! x
Loving the fact you say “mental” like a Brit. Driving here is mental, you probably fit right in 👍🏻👌🏻
As soon as you mentioned queue jumping I felt my hackles rising! The biggest no no of all time!
If someone says 'You Alright' to me, I usually just reply with a 'Yeah fine, you?'. Usually this is a greeting in passing with someone and you don't have time for a conversation.
If you let another car pass after you have stopped to do so, i expect a 'thanks' wave. This is just good manners. I just see the other driver as ignorant if they don't.
Cars have grown in size, where car parking spaces & garages haven't grown at all. My old car used to hang over most parking spaces, & it wasn't even a big car.
'Blitz Spirit' is to do with WW2.
Thank you!
£10 for fish and chips? I non-metaphorically spat my tea out at that price. Must be a southern thing with prices just being generally a lot higher in the south.
I live in London and £10 for fish and chips is cheap.
@@snowysnowyriver Jesus. Where I live you can get a huge portion for under £3.50
@@zaandros Where do you live the early 2000s?
@@WhatChaMaCalum The Isle of Man, so about the early 1850's
I'm in Cornwall and my local chippy will do large chips, jumbo battered, nuggets, and a curry sauce for £9.80. I think its a south east thing.
NEXT is a popular clothing store here that also has a section for household items like ornaments and cushions!
When people say, to my mum, " You al'right" she invariably says " No! Half left, and fatty in the middle. Make a nice sandwich. She is quite old lol.
😂😂
Love the new hairstyle, Grace. Very snazzy!👍
Thank you!! x
The tradition of a Sunday roast has a number of historic justifications:
- Sunday being, typically, a non-working day there was more time to prepare the intricate elements in a roast dinner;
- also the whole family were able to sit down together for a bigger meal;
- the left over potatoes and veg and roasted meat made for a very easy dinner on the following day which meant the mother was able to focus her time on “wash day”: cold cut meat and bubble and squeak was a traditional Monday dinner.
Is it bad that, that person saying they got angry over sunday roast, got me irrationally angry.
@@JamesLee-zb5lk yes
I am a Pescatarian so I had a nut roast on the 25th Dec
It was also the time when internal family grievances were aired and (hopefully) solved
Opinions on what path to take / advice were given too.
Oh and "THWACK"
Get yer elbows off the table and tuck your wings in !
The parking spaces thing is a real pain in the vernacular. I was at a hotel in Bristol over Hallowe'en, and the hotel car park was incredibly pokey. Parked properly, there was hardly enough space for me to get out of the car, let alone for doors on both sides of the car to open, and my Jaguar suffered a few dings and dents which will cost a pretty penny to remedy, I'll wager. Also, the Blitz spirit refers to a coming together of the populace in resisting a common foe. During the Blitz, British people kept their spirits up by helping each other out in a spirit of defiant unity.
As you may have guessed from a number of those points you covered the two main things in the UK are acknowledgement and politeness, when you walk down a quiet street and pass by the one other person down the street you should give a small nod or a friendly "hey" or "hi" it takes away a lot of tension (especially if it is dark), the other is thing is being polite "sorry" and "thankyou" are SO important it drives me crazy when they are not used.
oh and when saying alright to someone you have three responses you can give "fine thanks", "i'm good thanks" or simply say "alright" back.
I’m British but the thing that annoys me is British people getting annoyed at “a British accent” yea there isn’t a definitive British accent but that can be said about any country. Also my accent is “smoggie” the smoggie accent is “a British accent”
These people irritate me, I used to be one of those people and I’m ashamed of that
We're glad you don't mind people making references to "a British accent"! We agree that people who get their feathers ruffled by that seem a bit pedantic 😆
@@WanderingRavens There are so many accents in the UK so there's no such thing as a British accent.
Nothing pedantic about it at all
@@jillhobson6128 not to be rude but ask yourself would you say they spoke with an american accent or a oregon accent? cos you know america has a lot of accents too. Oh btw, I am british- also you are wrong there is a british accent- it's any accent used in britain, what you are doing is understanding 'a british accent' to mean 'the british accent'.
@@scottythedawg I would say a
Pacific north western accent.
m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10165489301755480&id=657160479
If someone says to me Alright... I reply not bad/ok thanks, how are you? Or yeah alright thanks, you?
Me too; I take the 'Alright?' as an invitation to start a, brief, conversation.
A cup of tea is such a basic thing to offer and yet so special and important.
It's warming and comforting and, because of the wait to cool, an introduction to engage in conversation. It's everything hospitality should be.
I feel awkward saying hello to people I don't know but I might smile and give a friendly nod if we mak eye contact.
Holding a hand up as a wave from your car as you have been let through a junction, or a return wave when somebody waved at you for letting them through. Got me in trouble once. A chap stopped his car, waved me down and had a right go at me for being a this and that tourist. Lol. I lived in Greece for years and a direct serious insult is holding your hand up, palm facing a person. It's akin to saying 'dam your eyes' and this is a serious insult in Greece. I had to learn to stop waving a other drivers from my car. Lol.
Next is a shopping place for the Karen's of the UK
Accurate
Next is a very good shop,selling clothes, homeware and furniture.
"Karens" is a term that doesn't mean anything here. Please explain.
I've known several people called Karen, all very nice so I don't know why it's considered an insult.
Please tell me what a "Karen" is?
Next are Tory donors, I refuse to shop there
@@jillhobson6128 Karen is a pejorative term for women seeming to be entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. The memes depict white women who use their privilege to demand their own way.
I’m not quite old enough to have experienced the “ Blitz” myself, my parents and older brothers did though. When those big brave German pilots were bombing and machine gunning innocent women and children in Britain’s cities in 1940 and 41, just because square heads get off on that kind of thing , communities came together to help , offering spare rooms in their houses to strangers , risking life and limb to help dig victims out of dangerous and unstable bombed houses , providing food out of their own meagre rations and just doing everything they could to help each other out in their hour of need - that’s the “ Blitz Spirit”.
By contrast , I saw a newsreel clip of the US 1930s “Dust bowl” - a notice on the highway next to a town in California read “ Oakies stopping here will be shot”
It's all "mood depending" the person who doesn't say thank you or doesnt wave after you let them pass off of a busy road onto your street to get home, could just be having a bad day or is in a rush or they are just a generally rude person in life.
And now with socual distancing enforced, and depending on how the queing line in stores or shops are marked out, queue jumping will either be solved or get worse 🤣
Question to Grace...Are you working on a Mid-atlantic accent there?
Not heard one of those since Jane Fonda in the 80s. 🤣
Great vid, great to hear from you America, thanks for the love.
All the best for the year ahead
Love and peace from England. ✌✌✌❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏