15 English Stereotypes According To 15 Americans, Explained | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

15 English Stereotypes According To 15 Americans, Explained

Yes, we do all love tea.

1012
15 English Stereotypes According To 15 Americans, Explained
Amber Armstrong

Sadly, not all of the ridiculous stereotypes you hear about England are true. Take the United States, for example, I can bet not everyone reading this LOVES cheeseburgers or wears a cowboy hat and watches football. Just like these assumptions, not all you hear about England is correct. Despite what people may think, we do not always order a spot of tea or text Queenie when we want to rant about our lives. So, I wanted to figure out just how inaccurate the country of England was represented over here. I went around and asked 15 people who grew up in the United States a simple question: "What is one stereotype about England you have heard?"

These are the responses I got:

1. “Tea and crumpets are a delicacy.”

Us Brits do love a good “cuppa,” so 50 percent of this statement is true. But, I would love to know who came back to the United States after visiting England and said “THEY ALL EAT CRUMPETS,” because this is extremely false.

2. “Bad teeth.”

I never noticed this until I left England, but I understand where tourists are coming from. In America, perfectly white and straight teeth are valued much more than in England. Here, you just have higher expectations, mainly due to the way the media influences everyone.

3. “They hate Trump.”

I can vouch for this. If I got a pound every time I was asked, "Why did you let Trump become president?" while I visited this summer, I could've bought another round-trip ticket.

4. “Don’t they all drive MINI Coopers?”

No. Do you all drive Ford trucks?

5. “They put gravy on everything.”

False. I can only name three dishes that always have gravy on them. Also, the gravy we use is brown, not the grey liquid that is put on biscuits over here.

6. “The telephone booths are all red.”

Not true. My house used to be close to a dark blue, graffiti-filled telephone booth. You were considered "off your rocker" if you called someone from it.

7. “All the guys are hot.”

Just like in the United States, Brits are made up of many wonderful people in all shapes and sizes.

8. “The word 'shag.'”

Yes, we do use this word. Your point?

9. "Everyone has tea with the Queen at some point."

This is just as hard as grabbing a cheeseburger with the president. Do you really think the Queen has time for all of us?

10. "Hogwarts is just like high schools over there."

You're not completely wrong. I've explained this thoroughly.

11. "Downton Abbey is how you all live."

It would be pretty nice to live in a castle/mansion with a fresh pot of tea made whenever I rang a bell. But, alas, my house was nowhere close to the homes on the set of this show.

12. "The Brits are all snobs."

There are a handful of people I can place into this description but this is nowhere near true.

13. "English people aren't as open or obnoxious as Americans."

I honestly believe this is true. I found that in America people are a lot more open about their lives than in the UK. After going to school in Washington state for a few months, I became louder and more outgoing.

14. "Fish and chips is the only good dish in England."

Fish and chips are actually incredible, but England does have a lot more to offer in the food department than the rest of the world makes out.

15. "They think American accents are hot."

I personally do, but I cannot speak for a number of my friends from England who think the exact opposite.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

768315
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

672794
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Importance Of Being A Good Person

An open letter to the good-hearted people.

976765
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments