10 Weird American Habits Brits Will Never Do
The United States and the United Kingdom share language, history, and plenty of TV shows. But when it comes to day-to-day habits, we often look at what our American cousins do and think: “Really? That’s normal?”
Here are ten perfectly ordinary American habits that leave many Brits scratching their heads.
1. High-Fives All the Time
In the US, every moment can end in a high-five. Great shot in the game? High-five. Passed the salt? Maybe a high-five. In Britain, we’re more likely to nod, mutter “nice one,” and quietly return to the kettle. The exuberance can feel over-the-top.
2. Declaring “I’m so excited!” for Everything
Americans love their big adjectives. “Amazing,” “awesome,” “so excited”, even for dinner plans! Here in the UK, we reserve that level of enthusiasm for major life events. Otherwise, we might say “that’s good” or “sounds alright.”
3. Triggered by “Hey, how you doing?”
“It’s so nice when people ask how you are” – not always, say Brits. In the UK, unsolicited friendly greetings from strangers can feel forced or even strange. Americans might see it as friendliness; Brits often see it as small talk gone wild.
4. Free Refills of Soft Drinks (And The Size of Them)
Ordering a drink in America often comes with a bottomless portion guarantee. Soft drink refills, upsized cups, jumbo sizes. Some Brits return bewildered: “Is that one drink… or three?” It feels excessive and a little exhausting.
5. Wearing Flip-Flops in Public Everywhere
In many parts of the US, flip-flops are casual not just on the beach but everywhere – restaurants, shops, even offices. In Britain, they’re summer garden shoes or beach footwear, rarely full-time streetwear. The idea of them being everywhere makes us raise side-eyebrows about dress codes.
6. Overusing “Awesome” and “Literally”
In UK speech, we treasure precision and understatement. But in the US, everything becomes “literally awesome.” A sandwich might be “literally the best thing ever.” Brits find the phrasing not just hyperbolic but mildly dishonest and grammatically suspect.
7. Tipping in Situations We’d Never Consider
In America, tipping is everywhere: restaurants, baristas, valet parking, you name it. In Britain, we tip when we feel we’ve been extraordinary served, otherwise, we don’t think twice. The expectation of tipping for routine service feels… odd.
8. Loving the Idea of the “Open Plan” House
Americans often boast about open-plan living – giant living rooms, kitchen islands, unlimited space. In the UK, many prefer separate rooms, walls, and a bit of privacy. The idea of always being in one massive space doesn’t always feel like “home.” Plus, open-plan living in the UK is COLD.
9. Queue Jumping at Grocery Check-outs
In the US, some stores have “express” lanes or self-checkout, but not the sacred British queue. We pride ourselves on forming a straight, polite line and waiting. When Americans breeze past or combine lanes, it feels impolite or chaotic to UK eyes.
10. Celebrating EVERYTHING with Parades and Fireworks
In the US, you get parades for local festivals, sports wins, national holidays and sometimes just random community events. In Britain, marching and fireworks are saved for big occasions. A supermarket opening day with fireworks? We might raise an eyebrow and think: “Really? All that for groceries?”
The Bottom Line
None of these habits are bad, merely different. Culture is about expectations, norms and how we interpret the world. What’s everyday hospitality and excitement in one country may feel performative or puzzling in another.
