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American Reacts to Why Americans Don't Understand British Sarcasm

JJLA Reacts

38,168 views

British sarcasm may be one of the most delightful and fascinating things I've come across. Today I'm reacting to Girl Gone London's video explaining why Americans don't always understand British sarcasm and honestly... I may have learned some things about myself in this one 😂

As an American, I kept realizing there were moments where I would've taken things literally while British people would immediately understand the joke. Let's see how many of these I completely miss.

Original Video: Americans don't understand British sarcasm...
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20 Comments

@foolsjourney8118 4 months ago

One of my favourites, after someone drove into the back of my friend's car at a roundabout; "How do you normally stop your carwhen I'm not here?"

@melbeasley9762 4 months ago

Americans must be accompanied by an adult. Sign outside a British pub.

@ionwolfhelm 4 months ago

Americans not getting sarcasm? I find that hard to believe.

@northnsouth6813 4 months ago (edited)

Also widely misunderstood by other countries is that we insult our friends, this is a sign of affection, trust, and deep bonding. But if insulting someone you have to take an insult back - it's called banter i.e. also 'taking the piss' out of each other.

@tomroberts102 4 months ago

"Sarcasm with training wheels." 😂😂😂

@bikerkermit 4 months ago (edited)

When I was a copper we pulled over a guy who was speeding. He was an old boy with a magnificent mustache, and my crewmate realised he looked like a WW2 RAF officer. His first question:

"Good evening, Wing Commander - are we having trouble getting airborne?"

@gillgill6095 4 months ago

Me and my husband were visiting family in Montana. One evening we were eating in a restaurant's outside area. A woman came out with the waiter, she couldn't decide if she wanted to be seated outside so the waiter tried to reassure her by encouraging my husband to tell her it was okay. My husband said "Yes it's fine, apart from the snakes" The woman looked absolutely horrified and the waiter said, " He's joking, he's British! "

@vaude77 4 months ago

Bill Bryson wrote about this in Notes from a Big Country

@punchpineapple8677 4 months ago

You're very 'british' JJ, in that you're quietly spoken, self deprecating, witty and able to laugh at yourself.

@brian1002 4 months ago (edited)

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.......but the highest form of intelligence.

@MartinShepherd-o5t4w 4 months ago

We start our sarcasm training from the minute we learn to talk and walk

@corringhamdepot4434 4 months ago (edited)

When I worked in a large company with Brits and Americans, The Americans were so paranoid about being sacked, or disciplined. They used to keep photocopies of every piece of paper that crossed their desks.

They were so careful about everything they said, because they never wanted to be misunderstood. So they were totally amazed by the banter between the Brits.

@Paddybpaddyb-e8n 4 months ago

For example; Top Gear, James May falls into a murky river & Richard Hammond says, '' Yeah that water looks horrible, try not to drink more than a pint''

@IreneWaugh 4 months ago

Us British are known worldwide for our sarcasm and wit 😂 we are also masters at taking the piss out of ourselves as well as different cultures.. I love my British sense of humour nothing like it anywhere in the world 😊😊

@bridiesmith5110 4 months ago

If it’s raining and some,one says” it’s nice weather”, it’s usually followed by “for ducks”.

@kevanwillis4571 4 months ago

An old girlfriend of mine moved to California.
It seemed all her new acquaintances were doing some sort of course or degree and suggested she may be interested.
As a Brit, and not being interested, she replied
'Me? I can barely read and write.'
An American colleague leaned in close and assured her, 'They have courses for that too, honey.'
🤣😂🤣

@garlicbreath7259 4 months ago (edited)

The other week I was in Lidl sipermarket and a woman was pushing a shopping trolley and her kid was inside the trolley being pushed around, probably about six years old. She went near me and I said, pointing at the kid, exuse me, what shelf did you get that from. She laughed.

@NicholasShanks 4 months ago

JJ, you get it, don't worry. You're far too cultured to be oblivious to this.

@ApocalypseBallroom 4 months ago

The phrase "a bit sticky" was used by British officers during the Korean War, where they meant they were in a serious danger situation. When asked how their troops were doing, Brigadier Tom Brodie replied, "Things are a bit sticky, sir," which the American general misunderstood as meaning they were holding firm, leading to a significant loss of life among British troops. This classic British understatement resulted in the decision not to send reinforcements, which ultimately led to the near annihilation of the unit.

@kevanwillis4571 4 months ago

When King Charles referenced 'Magna Carta, executive power, checks and balances.'
It was a rebuke to Congress for not reining in trump's autocratic behaviour.
Of course they all clapped like trained seals at feeding time because they thought they were about to get an ice cream. 🙄