Are YOU officially posh? New survey reveals 40 definitive signs

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Are YOU officially posh? 40 definitive signs revealed from using the terms ‘loo’ and ‘supper’, preferring loose leaf tea and having a loud laugh

  • Nationwide study delved into what Brits consider to be traits of true ‘poshness’
  • Survey carried out by Perspectus Global found officially posh if call toilet ‘loo’
  • Other findings include being able to ski, having family heirlooms and wine cellar

By Chloe Morgan For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

If you call dinner ‘supper,’ the toilet ‘the loo,’ you have paintings of your ancestors and you eat porridge and grouse, then you are officially posh, according to a new survey.   

A nationwide study by Perspectus Global delved into what Brits consider to be the traits of true ‘poshness’ – and found calling your parents mummy and daddy, even as an adult is a definitive sign.

Owning an Aga, having a loud laugh and driving an old Land Rover Defender also made the list, as did having a wine cellar, calling everyone ‘darling’ and wearing a tweed jacket. 

According to those surveyed, being able to ski, asking people ‘where did you school?’ and calling your pals by their second names also reveal a person’s poshness.

A nationwide study by Perspectus Global delved into what Brits consider to be the traits of true ‘poshness’ – and found wearing a tweed jacket a definitive sign. Pictured, stock image

Other indications of ‘poshness’ included having been to boarding school, knowing Latin, wearing an old, battered Barbour and having a family coat of arms.

The survey also revealed as many as two thirds (65 percent) of Brits know someone who thinks they are posh because they have a bit of cash, yet 81 percent said having money does not make you posh. 

48 percent of us know someone who is properly posh, which according to the survey means they would never say ‘cutlery’, but they know how to properly eat with a knife and fork. 

Someone truly posh would also reject French words such as ‘serviette’, preferring to use the English term ‘napkin.’ 

40 SIGNS THAT YOU ARE GENUINELY POSH, ACCORDING TO BRITS 

1. You went to boarding school – 34%

2. You have antiques and family heirlooms – 28%

3. You have a wine cellar – 26%

4. You have paintings of your ancestors – 26%

5. You belong to an old private members club – 25%

6. You NEVER discuss money – 25%

7. You call your parents ‘mummy’ and ‘daddy’, even when you are an adult – 24%

8. You have a family coat of arms – 23%

9. You ride horses – 22%

10. Your dinner parties are catered – 22%

11. You know how to eat properly with a knife and fork (you would never say cutlery) – 20%

12. You have a gardener – 20%

13. You call dinner ‘supper’ – 20%

14. You have silver – 19%

15. You send proper invites to parties in the post – 18%

16. You have a family tree – 17%

17, You shoot – 17%

18. You ski – 16%

19. You wear tweed jackets – 16%

20. You call everyone darling – 16%

21. You play croquet – 15%

22. You ask people, ‘where did you school’? – 15%

23. You call Champagne ‘Champers’ – 14%

24. You call the toilet ‘the loo’ – 14%

25. You drive an old Land Rover Defender – 14%

26. You wear an old Barbour jacket – 13%

27. You know Latin – 13%

28. You have shelves full of books – 13%

29. You eat partridge and grouse – 13%

30. You call their friends by their second names – 12%

31. You are good at small talk – 12%

32. You have a double-barreled name – 12%

33. You love cricket – 12%

34. You wear a gilet – 11%

35. You like rugby but not football – 11%

36. You say ‘napkin’ instead of ‘serviette’ – 10%

37. You laugh very loudly – 10%

38. You have an Aga – 10%

39. You prefer loose leaf tea to tea bags – 10%

40. You live in wellies – 9%

 

They also tend to laugh very loudly, use loose leaf tea – rather than teabags – and live in wellies.

The study, by insights agency Perspectus Global, also found that less than a quarter of the nation (22 percent) wish they were posh, despite 85 percent of the population agreeing that the class system is alive and well.

Said David Arnold of Perspectus Global commented: ‘The research reveals a really interesting list of what Brits consider to be posh in the modern age.

However, interestingly only 22 percent said they would like to be posh, wish shows most Brits are a happy bunch, without a family coat of arms or a wine cellar.’