r/AskABrit • • 6h ago

Did your older siblings ever stop calling you "little" brother/ sister?

9 Upvotes

I'm 27 and my 32yr old sister calls me her little brother still I think it's kinda cute and funny

she's always like when I try to pay “no ur my lil brother loll so i have to buy for coffee” whenever we meet😂. Just wondering if anyone else goes by this still or maybe I have the best sister ever 😂


r/AskABrit • • 8h ago

What does "so long old dear. Tuck into the grapes." mean?

4 Upvotes

I'm an American reading John Le Carre's Call for the Dead. Peter Guillam just said this to George Smiley. He's clearly being endearing, but is he being literal about grapes?


r/AskABrit • • 13h ago

TV/Film Has there ever been a good American remake of a tv show?

13 Upvotes

r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Sports Who is the most famous active British athlete?

0 Upvotes

Who is the LeBron James of the uk


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Grilled cheese?

0 Upvotes

I’m an American and today there was an article in the New York Times about the newest culinary fad in Denmark: a BMO (open-faced cheese sandwich with butter). Of course we have cheese sandwiches here and I know you do there, but it made me wonder about grilled cheese in Britain. Do you guys do grilled cheese (i.e. a cheese sandwich where the outsides are pan-fried in butter)?

We also do patty melts and tuna melts (ie a grilled cheese with a hamburger patty or grilled cheese with tuna salad in the middle). Are these culinary delights something Brits make and eat?


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Small silly question?

29 Upvotes

I’m an American who got into Agatha Christie when I was 11 and watched an old black and white version of Ten Little Indians. Since then I have consumed lots of British mystery novels, shows and movies. Big fan.

I was curious about one thing though - occasionally in older books a character picks up a cricket bat to do some damage, but in some newer books, on at least three occasions, they grabbed baseball bats.

So are there baseball/softball leagues in the UK now, or do people just buy them for home protection? (Because my husband has one in our master bedroom for that exact reason). I would think a cricket bat would be just as lethal - although baseball bats can be made out of aluminum, and I think cricket bats are always wooden? Maybe aluminum bats offer a superior thrashing?

EDITED to add that I did not see baseball bats in Agatha Christie books. I just recently noticed them mentioned in more modern books, which is why I was wondering if baseball has become more popular there. Several people are asking if I could post one of the books that referred to a baseball bat, and I’m trying to remember the last one I saw. I did hear it in a BBC series recently but it was being used by the ‘bad guy’ thugs which fits with some of your comments that they are sometimes used for enforcement.

Thanks for the comments!


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

If Top of the pops was still on TV who would have been your line up to perform?

0 Upvotes

I miss those days where could come home and watch top of the pops I hundred percent believe it should come back full time instead of just Christmas.

I would have Alan Carr, Mo Gilligan and Alesha Dixon presenting.

I would have in terms of performing

Soulidified - Man ain't me

The Script - Man of the arena

Bruno Mars Dance With Me

Ella Mai - Somebodys son

Stormzy feat Odeal- 24 hours

Izzy Bizu- Say No Prayer

who would you have hosting and who would you have performing


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Is Roger Allam considered to be one of Britain's last sex symbols?

0 Upvotes

r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Other Best place to go camping?

0 Upvotes

Im not much of a camper, but am willing to try it for funzies. Ive been to the UK once but only spent time in its cities

What are some of the best places to go camping in the UK?


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

Other I’m 27 and I’ve never approached a woman, due to social anxiety and not want to be an inconvenience. If anyone here has been in a similar situation, do you have any advice?

9 Upvotes

I’ve only ever had sexual encounters by paying for it, and in my day to day life, I’m surprised I’ve even done that. I grew up in a small town and now I’m in a large city down the South, but I didn’t realise how my environment had affected my mental health until I moved to a city, or maybe it’s the other way around. When I go to the shop and I’m around a lot of people, I put my headphones on and I keep to myself. I don’t tend to see women my kind of age, even now, but I’ve been thinking, I wouldn’t know what to do even if I did. I’ve suffered from social anxiety all of my life and never really felt like I’m a part of society (possible neurodivergence). I’ve made friends with women before, and still have a very close friend who is a woman, but I’ve made up whole stories about relationships and experiences I’ve had to people I would be ashamed of telling the truth to. It also feels like the more years that go by, the deeper the shame is. I don’t really know what to do about any of this. I’ve never gone on an official date before. The closest I’ve had to a date is going out and doing things with my friend, and she said that when we first met she would’ve been fine about me making a move on her, but crippling social anxiety and just generally not wanting to be more than a friend to her stopped me from doing it. However, I wouldn’t have any clue how to take the next step when it comes to someone I possibly end up being attracted to one day. It’s not that I suffer from gynophobia. It’s like a constant fear I’ve had of approaching pretty much everyone. It doesn’t help that I see content on social media about a lot of women not wanting men that are under 6ft approaching them. Just wondering if anyone has any advice?


r/AskABrit • • 1d ago

History Do British people ever appreciate how unusual England’s historical continuity is?

185 Upvotes

Something I’ve always found fascinating about England is how far back its history as a self-governing political entity goes. Compared with countries such as the US, France, Germany and Spain, England seems to have avoided a modern moment when it had to establish its independence, rebuild its national identity from scratch or create an entirely new political order following foreign rule.

Obviously, English history has involved invasions, civil wars, revolutions and plenty of upheaval. I’m not suggesting it has been peaceful or that everything has always worked well. But there seems to be a remarkable degree of continuity in England’s existence as a political entity over many centuries.

Coming from a country with a very different historical experience, I find this genuinely admirable. I’m not making a nationalist or right-wing point, and I’m not saying England is better than other countries. I simply find the idea of a country evolving over centuries without a modern independence struggle or a complete national reset quite remarkable.

Do British people ever think about this, or is it something you rarely notice because it’s simply the history?


r/AskABrit • • 2d ago

Other Will a national express bus driver allow me to board the next bus using a ticket for a previous bus?

3 Upvotes

UPDATE EDIT- So in the end I just showed my ticket and boarded the bus, either they don't care that much about the timing or they're not that vigilant, but I think it's the former. Thanks to everyone who replied for help😁🙏

Hi I don't know if this sub Reddit is the right one for this question but I had a booking with national express from London Luton to Finchley and frognal. But now I've seen that my flights been delayed by an hour. I'm trying to amend the time of my national express booking as well, but it's not showing the ticket when I log into my account, and using the form doesn't work either. Please could just speak to the bus drive to let me on the next bus that comes or is it a requirement to amend the ticket online. I can't seem to find there customer service help desk either.

Any help is appreciated thanks


r/AskABrit • • 2d ago

Did you ever think you'd be rich when you were young?

14 Upvotes

I can remember especially after getting my first job thinking I may be rich one day. I also thought I'd be self employed (2009 was a golden time for eBay). I actually am self employed but I'm a delivery driver🙃.

I also later found out people regularly made triple what I do doing a normal job and that I will just be floating around minimum wage jobs even with a degree, even when it requires experience, even when I work hard


r/AskABrit • • 2d ago

Do you eat the ends of the bread?

42 Upvotes

We have a mixed bag in this household where some of us wont eat the crusted ends of bread and others do. Just wondering what other people feel about eating the ends of the bread ??


r/AskABrit • • 2d ago

Socio-economic What trade do you do, and how did you get into it?

0 Upvotes

I’m interested in hearing from people who work in the trades. What do you do, how did you get started, and how do you find it?

I’m currently at university studying Building Surveying, but I’ve realised I really dislike office-based work, sitting behind a desk and dealing with reports and emails all day. I much prefer being hands-on, doing practical work and actually seeing what I’ve achieved at the end of the day.

I’m trying to work out what sort of career would suit me long-term, so I’m interested in hearing from people who’ve gone down the trades route.
What trade are you in? How did you get into it? What’s the pay and work-life balance like? And if you could go back, would you choose the same trade again?

Interested to hear people’s experiences, including anyone who got into a trade later in life or changed careers.


r/AskABrit • • 2d ago

Moving to London or anywhere else in England?

0 Upvotes

Hi everybody. In 2024 I got my British passport with form UKF. I am currently back in Accra after studying in Rome for 4 and a half years. I’ve got IGCSE, A levels and a degree from my uni in Rome. I am now looking to move to England next year to settle down, work and get a masters degree later on. I’ve only been to the UK to visit ( this was from Rome after I got my passport so it was quite affordable), but I’ve never actually lived there. I have no bank account, no NIN or any other documents apart from my passport. I contacted the UK high commission in Ghana and they advised that I will have to go to the UK to get all of that done. I would like to know what are my chances of getting accommodation and a job in this situation? My friends have advised that I should get a job before moving but I don’t see how this is possible as I have no other documents? My parents are willing to support me for up to 6 months if I make a move now. So what are my chances of getting any job at all in six months? Also I understand that I would need references in order to get a room in a shared apartment? I have experience as a barista from working in Rome as well as experience in research, data analytics, customer service (a German delivery company), and as a production assistant (associated press). Any help will be appreciated please. Thank you


r/AskABrit • • 3d ago

Other Anyone fall into a niche career that pays surprisingly well? (50k + salary)

95 Upvotes

Did you stumble into a random, boring or overlooked industry that turns out to be essential to other businesses or the public?

What do you do all day, how did you get into it, and what’s the pay like?


r/AskABrit • • 3d ago

Culture Best & worst UK theme park?

16 Upvotes

In your opinion ofc.


r/AskABrit • • 3d ago

Was it normal to carve a turnip in the 80/90s for Halloween across the whole of the UK?

267 Upvotes

Seen a lot of pumpkin carving posts on the socials and it got me thinking about my own childhood.

Im an 80s rural Scotland baby and I dont remember anyone having a carved pumpkin on display when I was growing up. However, I do remember seeing lots of carved turnips/suedes.

On a few occasions we also got to carve a turnip at school lol.

So im curios if it was common practice across the UK? Or was it just something we did in Scotland?


r/AskABrit • • 3d ago

Other What online stores have you found the best clothes for men?

8 Upvotes

Like ones that have decent T-shirts and other things that are also not too expensive


r/AskABrit • • 3d ago

Other Worst holiday you've been on?

12 Upvotes

Not mediocre or boring or someone getting sick. Just outright bad.


r/AskABrit • • 4d ago

What would you include on a checklist family should go through when a loved one is in hospital?

0 Upvotes

Eg checking that the oxygen is connected


r/AskABrit • • 4d ago

Other How wild is the British countryside?

120 Upvotes

Every time I see images or film of the British countryside, I am struck both by how beautiful it is, and how tame it looks. Rolling hills, pastures of sheep and cattle, woodlands with deer, and waterways with ducks and swans. The largest predators seem to be foxes. (I know badgers are ornery, but even they look polite compared to American badgers.) Do you have any dangerous wildlife? Are there places that you shouldn’t camp because of that? Is the biggest danger the weather?


r/AskABrit • • 4d ago

What was something from a non-British English-language work of fiction that confused you as a kid?

150 Upvotes

​

Allow me to provide a reverse example. I'm American. In the mid 1980s when I was 9 years old, we read 'Danny Champion of the World' in class. I really loved the book, but there was one thing that tripped me up. Why was the dad risking his neck poaching on some rich dude's land?

I remember wondering why he didn't just go out into the proper wilderness to hunt for food. And why just birds? Why not bag a deer, or at least a nice fat raccoon? (Them suckers can get bigger than you think.). 9 year old me assumed he was poaching on the rich guy's land either out of personal spite or as an act of class resistance, and that he was more driven by that than he was by food insecurity.

A few decades later I came across the book again, and the penny finally dropped.

Got anything like that? A book, movie, TV show, etc., from when you were a kid, from somewhere such as the US, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Barbados, wherever.


r/AskABrit • • 4d ago

Music What's your favorite uk music artist?

9 Upvotes

Mine, as an alien is The Smith followed by Joy Division, and I want to hear yours.