UK-v US..the differences in culture?

[rool]

In the UK "suspenders" are the erm..devices used to hold up ladies stockings...

 

Only seen them in films but I believe there were mens versions to hold up socks.

[dkjretired]

In the UK "suspenders" are the erm..devices used to hold up ladies stockings...

On the coffee thing, I think there are basically two sorts, instant & proper stuff, these are provided in two sorts of outlets, basic diner places we call "caffs" & specialist places like Starbucks etc. In the 1st the coffee is usually either instant or if actually ''brewed'' is also ''stewed'' in the 2nd it's fresh & really nice made to order. Americano is an Espresso but made longer/weaker, with hot water, nothing to do with a cappuccino at all, that's the one with the frothy milk.

 

The coffee made in diners, etc and places like Starbucks are made basically the same in the US, there really is not difference. You are right about the Expresso, I got that mixed up with Cappuccino(easier to spell too).

[Johnthed0g]

Only seen them in films but I believe there were mens versions to hold up socks.

Only ever used for comedic effect!! I wonder if anyone ever wore them??

[rool]

Only ever used for comedic effect!! I wonder if anyone ever wore them??

 

Ha ha, I'd like to think so. Maybe accountants and bank managers in bowler hats.

 

Here's another one for the mix I saw on another thread.

 

Hope it's not too early for this language. :)

 

When we are pissed we are drunk not annoyed or angry.

[Johnthed0g]

The coffee made in diners, etc and places like Starbucks are made basically the same in the US, there really is not difference. You are right about the Expresso, I got that mixed up with Cappuccino(easier to spell too).

So when you stay at a chain type hotel & get a coffee, you get it freshly made? I never did in the US, we remarked on it actually, we were surprised because we were expecting great coffee. A lot of UK places now make it to order in a cafetiere. We get passable coffee on SOME ships, the stuff you pay for on P&O is rubbish. The best coffee we ever had was in Jamaica, not saying it was Blue Mountain, but was it ever good coffee.

[Crusin-Suzan]

Can't wait until July when we go to the UK. I love back bacon. I will be on HAL that trip but I think they put in out for breakfast...:)

[dkjretired]

So when you stay at a chain type hotel & get a coffee, you get it freshly made? I never did in the US, we remarked on it actually, we were surprised because we were expecting great coffee. A lot of UK places now make it to order in a cafetiere. We get passable coffee on SOME ships, the stuff you pay for on P&O is rubbish. The best coffee we ever had was in Jamaica, not saying it was Blue Mountain, but was it ever good coffee.

 

Never said it was good but in most cases they will brew it just like starbucks does.

[Pjran]

I love this thread :D.

 

The same language but very different meanings..........this reminds me of a conversation over dinner on the QE2. A mixed table of Americans, Australians and Brits. When asked by a table companion what our fav foods are my freind replied "fag***s and beans" :eek:. Believe me it took some explaining and certainly broke the ice.

 

Pj

 

THE MEAT DISH IS A TYPE OF SPICEY SAUSAGE WHICH IS ROUND IN SHAPE. BRAIN'S MAKE A FROZEN ONE AND YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM BUTCHERS, SERVED WITH GRAVY

[Scrapchick]

Are rubbers the elastic (rubber) bands we use to hold things together here in the states or something else in the UK (I know what they are of course here) and what are suspenders in the UK? sorry for my ignorance. What other terms are used differently in the two countries?

 

LOL!! You're not ignorant at all... It's just the difference between the cultures!

 

Rubbers in the UK are pencil erasers... They are condoms in the US...

 

Suspenders in the UK are the garter belts women use to hold their stockings up...!

[ellasnan]

Boot/Trunk....Nappy/Diaper....Dummy/Pacifier...Football/Soccer.....Sea/Ocean

Biscuit/Cookie....Chips/Fries....Crisps/Chips....Mobile phone/Cell phone...Number plate/Tag...Toilet or Loo/Bathroom or Restroom

 

Also on chips in a chip shop you do not use malt vinegar it is called "non brewing condiment"...

 

Coffee in England Kenco in the US Folgers..no addatives such as Hazelnut, vanilla etc....Best brewed by oneself to ones taste;)

[Cruise Junky]

Joint is another good one. We moved to Canada in 1980 and I still remember my mom yelling through the meat department to me that she was going to pick up a Joint for Sunday's dinner :eek: It would be a Roast ;)

[tom_uk]

When we are pissed we are drunk not annoyed or angry.

 

There's a line in 'Die Hard', where the #2 terrorist (the one with the long blond hair), having been hung up in chains by McClain, erupts out of a room, breathing fire & brimstone. One of the female characters says to Holly Gennaro "That guy is so pissed....". Always raises a guffaw in the UK.

[celem]

We are just off of the Constellation. Our ship was rather flooded with Canadians and Brits - we enjoyed your company.

 

I really, really love the mushy peas available at the British station near the port side rear of the Constellation. I mean that I really love them - I'd go get a whole plate of them, The ship did a great job catering to various nationalities with various national specialties and I enjoyed eating them.

 

However, I didn't really care for their version of British Bangers - too bland for me. I did like them in London, however - they were spiced better there.

[LustforLife]

I think a major cultural difference is that in the US it is difficult to get a decent cup of tea. No one here knows to warm the pot and if you order it in a restaurant you get a tea bag in a cup of lukewarm water.

[Johnthed0g]

I think a major cultural difference is that in the US it is difficult to get a decent cup of tea. No one here knows to warm the pot and if you order it in a restaurant you get a tea bag in a cup of lukewarm water.

Erm...I have news for you......

[Aussie One]

Hi Johndog i will be in Bournemouth pr Cruise August and September. how about a couple of beers or tea is the Criterion Pub ? still there Grumphy

[Johnthed0g]

Sounds possible...don't know Bournemouth that well.

[richsea]

I love this thread! It's so interesting to compare words & phrases & their different meanings beteen our countries! We watch some BBC shows on our local PBS stations (MI-5 & New Tricks) & love to hear the "local jargon". We always DVR them & tend to play them louder (like we'll be able to better understand them) & constantly rewind & replay to try to fully understand them. They're great shows!

 

I do have one question though. I know the difference between our bacon & Canadian(there's is more or less a slice of ham!); but how does bacon from the UK differ:confused:?

[deb18]

I am really enjoying this thread and learning a lot. How are you Bangers different than our sausages?

[Billiam]

No one has mentioned the manners differences. Our recent dining table had 4 Americans and 4 from Wales. My elder statesman tablemate from Wales asked me after the 3 or 4th night why we did not use knives to eat with. They always had a knife in their hand for the full meal and always ate with 2 hands. I explained I had been taught to eat with one hand and the other remains in the lap except when a knife was needed. He said he wondered what I was doing with the hand in my lap :)

[Johnthed0g]

I will try our bacon is usually smoked & is like a thinly sliced chop, mostly meat, what US bacon I have had is like one of those bacon snack things tastes of little other that what it has been treated with. We also have this we call it streaky bacon quite fatty served crisp. Sausages, nobody really calls them Bangers (maybe Dick Van Dyke, blimey guvnor) sausages are an art form these days, with individual butchers making their own type, the different sorts are too many to list, but with different additives there are pork, beef, lamb, wild boar, veggie, then we go on to variations pork & apple/Stilton chillies..it goes on.....They used to be crappy things with stuff you wouldn't want to eat ....full of holes (earholes, eyeholes & arseholes) now they are made with good meat (so they say)

Aren't American sausages like Frankfurters in hot dogs?

[Johnthed0g]

By the way I also put this on the P&O site ....very little interest compared with here.

I must say that I find the Celebrity crowd very friendly & tolerant of other peoples views, I hadn't posted here as I had only been on one =X= cruise but do have another planned.

[Scrapchick]

Sausages have really become an art form in the UK.... There are so many varieties of all different kinds of flavors and sizes, from tiny chipolatas and cocktail sausages to big thick bangers. There's a huge range of choice and a lot of variety in price too. In the US there only ever seems to be half a dozen types and they're all cooked already! English sausages are fresh and have to be cooked before they are eaten.

 

I do miss the sausages a lot. My daughter eats them like crazy when she's in England but won't touch the American ones.

[Scrapchick]

No one has mentioned the manners differences. Our recent dining table had 4 Americans and 4 from Wales. My elder statesman tablemate from Wales asked me after the 3 or 4th night why we did not use knives to eat with. They always had a knife in their hand for the full meal and always ate with 2 hands. I explained I had been taught to eat with one hand and the other remains in the lap except when a knife was needed. He said he wondered what I was doing with the hand in my lap :)

 

That's a tough one for me... I'm raising a daughter who was born in the US but trying to teach some English manners. To me, we were given two hands for a reason and one of those reasons is to employ both hands when eating. One holds the fork, one the knife. I always find it puzzling to watch Americans chasing food around their plates with just their fork when they could use the knife to scoop it onto the fork... Likewise, I don't care for the sawing action many employ to cut their meat, stabbing it with the fork and sawing at it with the knife.

 

I know it's a cultural difference and neither way is superior, but overall I do think the British way of doing it looks a little more refined at the table. My American husband is even learning to put his knife and fork together at "6.30"on the plate to tell the waiter he's done with his meal.

[Cruise Junky]

If you don't use a knife you are more than likely using your fork as a shovel which would be a huge no no :)