Noisy neighbours, queue-jumpers, and bad haircuts are among the top 20 things Brits simply grin and bear, according to new research. A poll of 2,000 adults found that, on average, Brits tolerate such annoyances three times a day rather than make a fuss.
What Brits tolerate most
The research revealed that 24% have gone to the seaside only for it to rain most of the time, while a third have suffered through a painfully boring conversation at a party. More than a quarter (27%) of all those polled admitted they've eaten a meal they didn't enjoy at a friend's house rather than risk offence.
One in five (20%) have kept quiet about food they disliked at a wedding, while the same proportion have done so at their partner's family home. A further 15% have suffered through an unenjoyable dinner party meal without saying a word. When it comes to restaurant service, 35% have stayed silent after being served a disappointing or cold meal, and 32% have politely accepted a terrible gift without saying a word.
Working parents under pressure
The chaos of busy family mornings means 26% of working parents have ended up drinking a cold tea or coffee after being distracted by family demands, while almost half (45%) admitted they've started a workday feeling like they haven't had enough sleep. Meanwhile, 30% have battled through the school run in the rain, according to the OnePoll data.
44% of working parents described their mornings as busy but manageable, but 29% skip breakfast several times a week because they're short on time. As a result, half of all working parents regularly settle for food on the go they don't particularly enjoy, and when it comes to breakfast, 41% have reached for a meal replacement drink.
Why Brits keep quiet
Pete Rosier, from yfood, which makes nutritionally balanced ready-to-drink meals and commissioned the research, said: "There's something uniquely British about tolerating the mediocre, saying 'it's fine', and carrying on regardless."
He added: "In fact, putting up with daily compromises has become such a habit that many of us do it several times a day without even thinking about it."
The top 20 things Brits grin and bear include poor customer service, someone jumping in front of you in a queue, not having enough sleep before a busy day at work, people cancelling plans last minute, putting up with noisy neighbours, someone eating noisily next to you, and encountering delays on the way to work.
Also on the list are having a disappointing or cold meal at a restaurant or takeaway, getting stuck having a boring conversation at a party, being bought terrible gifts, sitting next to someone who plays loud videos on public transport, someone talking over you at work, eating bad tasting food at someone else's house, and someone giving you a cup of tea that isn't how you like it.
Rounding out the list are going on a seaside holiday only for it to rain most of the time, getting on the train to work and it's packed full of people, getting a bad haircut, drinking a cold coffee or tea because there was no time to drink it or getting distracted by family or kids, doing the school run in the rain, and getting urgent emails and work messages before you start in the morning.
Rosier said the findings highlight how much working parents take in their stride every single morning and how they often put their own needs to one side to keep family life running smoothly. He added that when time is tight, convenience often wins out, which is why so many are reaching for food on the go or meal replacement drinks to fuel their mornings.
