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American Reacts to British Politeness… That’s Actually an Insult!

JJLA Reacts

20,195 views

Today we’re taking a look at UK Rewind’s video about British politeness that’s actually an insult. Some of these phrases sound completely harmless on the surface, but apparently they can mean something very different depending on tone and context. British communication can be subtle, sarcastic, and sometimes brutally polite at the same time.

Original Video: British Politeness: The Hidden Insults We ...
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20 Comments

@LisaBergstrom-g9h 6 months ago

My godmother once referred to me as “a child only a mother could love”! I’m now 64 and it still stings 😂😂😂

@random_carbon 6 months ago

Aw, bless his cotton socks.

@rachelwalsh3575 6 months ago

Similarly, when my son has thrown out “I AM trying” I have occasionally responded with “Yes. You are.” 😂😂

@taffygeek 6 months ago

The phrase "he seems harmless" was adopted in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, where the entry for earth simply read "Harmless". After spending 15 years on Earth Ford Prefect promised the entry would be updated in the future edition to "mostly harmless".

@MikoMakopo 6 months ago

"Well, you could do that".."that is one way"

@juneseghni 6 months ago

we are very good at 'damning with faint praise'

@LeoG666_ 6 months ago

My grandmother once told me " you have the most sensible haircut I've ever seen on a child". Ouch!!!

@lyndarichardson4744 6 months ago

JJ your reactions show that you've got British understatement and sarcasm to a T !

@trevorlsheppard7906 6 months ago

I'm pleased to hear people from the 50s and 60s are still alive as I was borni 1948 😊😊❤

@MikoMakopo 6 months ago

Yes, "he seems harmless enough.." still alive and well in my part of the country.

@NickHobbs 6 months ago

The thing that I like about this video, is that these phrases are real, and most definitely still used!

@gillfox9899 6 months ago

As a teacher we were told we had to start a child's report with something positive. This could be very trying at times so i had several words i used. Cant remember all of them but
Pleasant member of the class meant he/she was so unmemorable that i often forgot they were there.
Proactive meant pain in the arse,always interfering with other students
Good communication meant wouldn't shut up.etc

@helenwood8482 6 months ago

The only one of these that isn't still in current usage is bless your heart, we just use bless instead

@vickiblack7700 6 months ago

I still say some of these🤣 Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham is Maggie Smiths character in Downton

@ravinloon58 6 months ago

A village somewhere must be missing him. Impressive, walking AND chewing gum. Precious!

@carolineskipper6976 6 months ago

Yes- Maggie Smith's character in Downton Abbey had a title- but her character's NAME was Violet Crawley, She was the Dowager Duchess of Grantham. She really was an absolute master of the cutting remark couched in politeness!

"He's harmless" Yes, every community had someone about whom that could be said. And then people say "They didn't have all this autism back in my day!"

@Rin-or-ISA 6 months ago

My nan used to say I was sartorially inelegant. Thanks Nan

@HJJSL-bl8kk 6 months ago

My late mother was good at the back-handed compliment. I remember a cake I made, which wasn't a triumph. "Brave choices in flavouring" was her verdict.

@livb6945 6 months ago (edited)

"I wouldn't have done it like that" isn't bad, it's quite neutral. The "as long as you're happy with it" cuts deep. Best answer is "well, I'm certainly not trying to please you" 😊