Great British quirks! People reveal the UK customs that leave them baffled, from taking birthday cake home after a party to using a washing up bowl – so, how many are YOU guilty of?
- A Mumsnetter started a thread to find out the weirdest British quirks
- Those living in the rest of the world commented to say what they found strange
- Use of a washing up bowl and taking birthday cake home were common replies
If you’ve ever split the bill equally while eating out, worn your shoes in someone else’s house or given guests a slice of cake to take home from a party, it turns out you may have unwittingly committed a huge faux pas.
A revealing Mumsnet thread has detailed the British habits that leave outsiders scratching their head, after a user asked for people’s view on the quirks that they find strange about ‘us Brits’.
The anonymous poster wrote: We are always on our high horse, making light humour over the habits of other countries (particularly the US), so I thought it would be funny to see what people overseas find “unique” about us!’
And the thread received a flurry of responses as people bemoaned using a bowl in the sink for washing up, eating double carbs, carpeted pubs, and having to buy your own drinks at weddings.
A user on problem-sharing website Mumsnet asked others to name the quirks they find weirdest about ‘us Brits’ – including taking birthday cake home in party bags (file image)
One said: ‘At my son’s birthday party recently, the French parents of one of his friends said they find British birthday parties bizarre, in particular the way the cake is brought out, happy birthday sung etc, and then immediately whipped away to be cut up and wrapped in napkins for the party bags.
‘Apparently in France the cake gets eaten at the party.’
Elsewhere a user was disgusted by the use of a washing-up bowl, and wondered what the point of it was, saying: ‘Just use the sink! I’ll never understand why a smaller bowl helps in any way.’
Others pointed out that Brits sometimes lounge on the sofa with their shoes still on.
They said: ‘Walking around your house with shoes on. Slippers I get – they can be comfy. But shoes?? Not comfy at all.
‘I was shocked when I saw that some of my friends lounge on the sofa with their shoes on. I don’t see how you can relax with them on….’
Some couldn’t comprehend the British sandwich fillings. From fish fingers to chip butties, people from other countries do not understand.
The thread received a flurry of responses as people bemoaned the trend for putting birthday cake inside party bags instead of eating it at the party
Elsewhere users are disgusted by the use of a washing-up bowl, and wonder what the point of it is
Carpetted bathrooms and pubs ick these Mumsnetters out, while splitting bills in restaurants is also a bit strange
One wrote: ‘My husband is always bemused by English sandwiches too – crisp baps, fishfinger sandwiches, and chip butties being the most confusing to him.
‘Remember him once exclaiming “You English will put anything between two pieces of bread and call it a sandwich!”‘
Apparently Americans like to cut their food into squares, then leave their knife on the table to scoop food up with their fork – which makes the British use of both pieces of cutlery at the same time a little odd.
These posters didn’t understand why Brits had cards for every occasion and children ate separatel
One poster wrote: ‘My Dh and his family (American) find out use of cutlery fascinating.
‘My mil particularly says it’s like watching performance every time I use a knife and fork. They cut it all up into little squares and then just shovel it in which I find weird.
‘They think I’m weird because they don’t think it’s possible to enjoy a meal while holding your knife and fork at the same time.’