From crisps to Brown Sauce, the cultural divide between the US and UK is vast. A new list highlights ten things Americans find inexplicable about British life, from food to politeness.
British politeness is a particular puzzle. The greeting 'you all right' is met not with a detailed response, but with the same phrase returned. Americans, by contrast, would give a full account of their wellbeing.
Food habits also cause confusion. The description of Marmite as 'yeast extract' is off-putting to Americans, who associate yeast with medical issues. Similarly, Bovril, a beefy drink consumed at football matches, is baffling to those used to steak.
Regional accents are another source of wonder. Manchester and Newcastle, less than 200 miles apart, have dozens of distinct accents, while California's vast expanse yields a single sound. Americans also struggle with British terms like 'public school' meaning state school, despite the UK having no states.
The list concludes with a plea: build Hogwarts out of peanut butter, as America would pay. The only thing in the UK that tastes like peanut butter is peanut butter itself, unlike the US where chocolate and cereal often mimic the flavour.
