Actually, we don't say that in Britain

[Nivag the Owl]

So I was watching Family Guy earlier and came across one of their rips at the British, which are usually pretty damn funny. But this one just annoyed me. Some guy who was supposed to be a stereotype referred to his bottom as his fanny. But yeah, in Britain, "fanny" kinda means "vagina". So I did get an extra laugh out of a man threatening to expose his vagina, but if you're going to take a rip at a stereotype, at least get it right

Don't worry, I do have a follow up question, I'm not just aimlessly posting Family Guy quotes. What's your favourite (or funniest) English (UK) / English (US) mix-up?

 

[kalakashi]

Doesn't Family Guy always rip at British stereotypes that were true 50 or so years ago? I think it's part of the joke.

I'm not sure about the question, but I realised that idioms are pretty funny recently when I was told a french one, which I think is "the little cabbage" or something to that effect. "Le petit choux" I believe. I just wish I remembered what it meant.

 

[electric discordian]

In an episode of Murder She Wrote, there is a timeless quotation. "I want you on that like fog on tower bridge!" Makes me giggle every single time I hear it!

In my defence it's the wife that watches it!

 

[GrinningManiac]

Any time an american does a british accent

It's either Dick van Dyke-esque Cockney or some stupid quasi-posh (Pronounced Poe-sh)

AND STOP MISTAKING US FOR AUSTRALIANS

AND STOP MISTAKING THE AUSTRALIANS AS SOUTH AFRICANS

AND STOP CALLING THE NEW ZEALANDERS AUSTRALIAN

Good grief, is it THAT hard to understand?

 

[Sensenmann]

Any time an american does a british accent

It's either Dick van Dyke-esque Cockney or some stupid quasi-posh (Pronounced Poe-sh)

You mean like these accents? Particularly portrait-lady

 

[Captain Pancake]

In an episode of Murder She Wrote, there is a timeless quotation. "I want you on that like fog on tower bridge!" Makes me giggle every single time I hear it!

In my defence it's the wife that watches it!

Don't worry, your secret is safe with us.

Well, I'm a bit miffed at the stereotype that we all have bad teeth. Where the hell did it even come from?

The unhealthy/ unappealing food one is true though, fish and chips and kebabs? I'll take the american equivalent any day.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Let me say this in Family Guy's defense, it is written for an American audience, and regardless of what the stereotype is in Britain, in America that's how the stereotype would be percieved. That is to say, that in order to correct an incorrect stereotype, Family Guy would have to divert time from their original purpose (to entertain) in order to carry out a second purpose (to inform), which would be fine except that as always they're running within a limited time frame.

Point being, that from the perspective of people writing for an American audience, it makes more sense to play to an incorrect stereotype for the purposes of entertainment than it does to try and correct an incorrect assumption, which would probably just end up confusing the vast majority of the American audience (I'll be honest, I live here, most of us really and truly would be confused if they tried to correct the stereotype).

 

[Woodsey]

AND STOP MISTAKING US FOR AUSTRALIANS

Speaking of this, someone on here tried their hardest to reassure me that Yahtzee definitely does have a thick Australian accent. It was funny, but I really couldn't work out at the time how quite a clearly-British accent could be mistaken for an Australian one.

 

[technoted]

And why is every British hero not actually British?

 

[Erja_Perttu]

Any time an american does a british accent

It's either Dick van Dyke-esque Cockney or some stupid quasi-posh (Pronounced Poe-sh)

You mean like these accents? Particularly portrait-lady

You did not just diss Joanna Lumley. Oh no.

OT: Regional stereotypes piss me off more than international mishaps. I am from the west country and am perfectly capable of saying the letter T and not stretching my Arrrrrs. Wait, wait, hang on, let me try that again; Arrrrrrrrrrr.

Damn it.

 

[uncle-ellis]

As a British person I am jolly ticked-off by this.

 

[Akkiko]

Spoiler

I felt this was appropriate.

 

[Skinny Razor]

What about not understanding the difference between British and English?

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

As a British person I am jolly ticked-off by this.

Rather, those colonials don't know the proper etiquette. More tiffin?

 

[thenumberthirteen]

Not really a US/UK mix up, but I remember reading about this one poet who thought a "Twat" was something nuns wore on their heads. It was quite the odd poem because of it.

 

[BuchalBainne]

In an episode of Murder She Wrote, there is a timeless quotation. "I want you on that like fog on tower bridge!" Makes me giggle every single time I hear it!

In my defence it's the wife that watches it!

they had an english woman listening to a gramophone on there the other day...seriously, when it supposed to be set!?

There was a 'drive by' in Murder, She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle.....except it was performed with a sword......

 

[The Lawn]

I'm just sick of people asking if I like tea the moment they find out I'm British.

I personally can't stand the stuff, though I do like me a good beer.

 

[uncle-ellis]

As a British person I am jolly ticked-off by this.

Rather, those colonials don't know the proper etiquette. More tiffin?

I needn't, I'm seeing the queen at lunch time for scones and tackles about my expedition to India.

 

[GideonB]

As a British person I am jolly ticked-off by this.

Rather, those colonials don't know the proper etiquette. More tiffin?

I needn't, I'm seeing the queen at lunch time for scones and tackles about my expedition to India.

And I'm going with my mates into London to get pissed with a bunch of chavs.