‘In the Club’
There’s a radio commercial I keep hearing at the moment for a wholesale store called Sam’s Club and it makes me chortle every time because the British meaning of the phrase that they keep repeating is interpreted muchly differently from the American way.
It goes: ‘Sam’s Club: life is better when you’re in the club.’
In the UK, ‘in the club’ is British slang for ‘pregnant’, so obviously this commercial takes on a whole different meaning when interpreted by us Brits from that of being able to access discount goods 😉
Life is better when you’re pregnant 😉
Non-Americans, what American customs seem outrageous/pointless to you?
See that headline above? This question was asked on Reddit by a random person three days ago and almost 40,000 people have commented on this thread which asked non-Americans to talk about US customs they find strange, pointless or even outrageous.
And people are still adding to it!
Such answers include the way prices are marked in US shops and tax is not included, large numbers of lawyers and litigation, gaps in toilet doors, using the same knife and fork for starter and main course (entrée), tipping massively, the Pledge of Allegiance, why healthcare is for the people with money.
Side by side, honest!
Watch this round-up of American-jabbing, it’s interesting! And then, on the reverse side, if you’re tired of all the discussion threads poking fun at Americans, watch this to find out what baffles people about the British.
The saying ‘alright’ thing cracks me up about us Brits – I do that ALL the time and my poor American friends are like ‘Yeah, I’m fine, really’. 🙂
Aren’t we just all crackers?!
ukdesperatehousewifeusa 
I love all the strange, funny things that confuse me on a daily basis, and the ones that make me laugh out loud and make me look like a crazy Brit … fab post!
That’s what it’s all about isn’t it, Molly?! 🙂 x
First time I used the word ‘jumper’ for sweatshirt my husband thought I was talking about the people who throw themselves off bridges … very awkward!
Oh hahahaha! 🙂
Haha I love this! I lived in California for a couple years with my family when I was 17 and we were constantly enjoying the differences in not just the language but the customs too!! It’s amazing how different Brits and Americans are!! Thanks so much for joining in with #myexpatfamily hope to see you again next month 🙂
Vive la difference!!!!
I have lived in the UK for over 12 years and I am forever hearing new, and weird, little words and phrases. This language and culture is so vast.
That’s the fabulous thing hey?! 🙂
I love this sort of comparison between cultures, it’s always so fascinating. Linking up with #myexpatfamily
I love it too! Howdy!
As an American who has been living in the UK for a few months, I have to say I’m still never sure how to respond to the “alright?”
I think it’s ‘fine thanks!’
I have been living here in England for 18 years, and I still am surprised by new words and phrases (I love that!). Also, differences in how we/you pronounce words, as in which syllable gets the stress. But what STILL flummoxes me, and I don’t know why, are the words for sweaters/jumpers etc. I get cardigan – to me, a sweater that buttons up the front. A jumper is a pullover sweater, but what is a jumper without sleeves? It isn’t a vest, is it? Because a vest is an undershirt of some kind – yes? And a fleece is the same as a sweatshirt– but is it? *scratches head*
Confusing innit?!
So ” In the club” is in American ” Knocked up “?
Also the reason prices on the shelf or tags are different is that retailers are showing you THEIR price, not theirs plus the governments add on.
Also, the USA does not have a national VAT (yet!). The tax is STATE sales tax, if any. So, for example, take two adjacent states – Maryland has a sales tax, Delaware does not. So, a chain with stores in both Maryland and Delaware would have to have different price tags in each state.
I love Delaware! 😉