For many Brits living abroad, thoughts of home often conjure images of fish and chips, lazy afternoons in a pub garden, or nostalgic TV reruns. However, for Olivia and Thomas Phillips, who swapped their life in Poole, Dorset, for Austin, Texas, the thing they miss most is something far less tangible: sarcasm.
Why Sarcasm Tops the List
Olivia Phillips told the Mirror, "Besides family and friends, I can miss sarcasm. In my experience, people in the US are more literal in what they say, and sarcasm doesn't work the same way. One of my closest friends here is from the UK, and I love that we can be a bit sarcastic together."
However, she also noted that British politeness can sometimes be a drawback in the US. "I've also noticed that UK people tend to be very apologetic or say 'please' too frequently. It could be seen as polite, but it can also be seen as subservient or unauthoritative, especially if you're in a culture like the US. A UK friend of ours who works at a large US company said employees thought he was even passive-aggressive when he used 'please' in the emails," she explained.
She added, "This was something I picked up on that my husband did a lot when we met. I asked if he was actually 'sorry' all the times he said it, and most of the time, it's just something he was used to saying. It is the same with 'please.' If you say the words too much, without being intentional, they lose their meaning."
Embracing American Work Culture
The couple now run a men's hormonal health clinic online called Feel30, as well as an SEO and GEO marketing firm, DTC SEO Agency. Thomas Phillips is particularly enthusiastic about the intense work culture in the US.
"As an entrepreneur since the age of 13, I've always loved how big America is and how big Americans think. I love the business culture here. Achievements are celebrated, as opposed to in the UK, where I certainly experienced tall poppy syndrome. I love the US tax system much more than the UK, and you are rewarded for giving back," he said.
Olivia echoed his sentiments but acknowledged the double-edged nature of the "hustle culture." "For those who are ambitious and want to work hard, there aren't any limits to how far you can go. People around you cheer you on and don't think it's crazy if you say your goal is to own something like a private jet. In the UK (or Sweden), people might laugh a bit and make it known they think you're dreaming a bit too big," she said.
She added, "But on the other hand, it's more raw… the culture might not work as well for those who don't rise under pressure or enjoy the daily grind. For me, it's motivating. I can build my dream life, and it's entirely up to me. What I put in, I get back. I find it inspiring to talk to people who are successful, and they're happy to talk about the journey which led them to where they're at."
Trend of Leaving the UK
Much has been made of the so-called 'capital flight' from the UK since the Labour Government won the 2024 General Election. Some data suggests that a significant number of people intend to leave the UK. A YouGov poll commissioned by Tideway Wealth following the 2025 Budget found more than one-in-10 UK adults are planning to move abroad. The study of 2,178 adults in the UK also revealed 4% were aiming to leave within the next five years. Respondents cited the cost-of-living crisis, wage stagnation, economic uncertainty, immigration and rising taxes as reasons why.
According to analysis by Tax Justice, 18,000 news pieces have been published on the topic of wealthy people leaving the UK since the start of 2024. The news reporting is largely based on a report by golden passport sellers Henley & Partners. Tax Justice has called aspects of that report into question. "For example, the 16,500 millionaires supposedly leaving the UK is less than 1% of UK millionaires. When put into perspective, the number of millionaires supposedly leaving is statistically insignificant. This has been consistently the case at a global level since 2013, when the claims began," Tax Justice writes.
The organisation has also called into question the way the report was put together. It adds: "The data is primarily based on where people said they work on social media, not on actual migration. The report author has not made his data public for others to verify."
