5 Things You’ll Only Understand If You’ve Lived in the UK

Every country has its cultural quirks, and the UK is no exception. From the sanctity of queuing to understanding the rules of a good cuppa, British culture can be as confusing as it is compelling.

So, if you’ve ever wondered why a Big Tesco is so exciting or how to have good banter, look no further than our handy translation of the UK’s most bewildering terms.

1) Big Tesco

Ah, big Tesco. Ask anyone and they probably have fond memories of this UK supermarket chain.

A Big Tesco is the supersized version of a supermarket, selling not only groceries but electronics, books, an infinite number of magazines, and a whole clothing store inside.

This might sound like a regular shopping experience, but for Brits, a trip to big Tesco is an adventure – even more so if it’s a spontaneous decision at an unusual hour.

2) Banter

Banter is a style of light, fast-paced, conversation and joking strongly associated with UK culture. British humour tends to be quite sarcastic and dry, and banter is a good example of this, using irony and sarcasm to joke around or tease your mates. This can confuse outsiders, though, who might confuse the light-hearted joking with actual offence.

3) The Big Light

When a Brit tells you to turn off the big light, you know it’s serious. Dare to turn on the big light after dark and you might be met with some disdainful looks. The big light refers to the brightest light in a room – normally the ceiling lamp – as opposed to ‘smaller’, softer lights. Evenings are instead reserved for cosy lamps and sconces.

4) Cheeky Nando's

No phrase has confused outsiders more than a ‘cheeky Nando’s’. Nando’s is a fast-food restaurant in the UK known for its grilled chicken in a spicy Peri Peri sauce. But what has a chicken restaurant got to do with cheekiness?

A cheeky Nando’s is often synonymous with UK lad culture, groups of young men who follow a lifestyle of banter, drinking, and football. When Nando’s first became popular in the UK, ‘going for a cheeky Nando’s’ was just a casual phrase to describe a spontaneous trip to the restaurant – the cheeky part implying the trip is a treat or a slightly rebellious act in a harmless way. Another example of this is a ‘cheeky pint’.

Nowadays, ‘cheeky Nando’s’ has become more of a meme than a sincere phrase, often used to mock the kind of lad culture it’s associated with.

5) Spoons

No, not the cutlery. We mean the great British chain, Wetherspoons.

Wetherspoons, or more colloquially, ‘Spoons’, for short, is a well-known chain of pubs in the UK known for cheap prices and bold carpet choices. Founded in 1979, Wetherspoons has since made a huge dent in British pub culture and is now a staple of almost every British town and city. You’ll find everyone in a Spoons, from broke university students looking for a cheap night out to old retirees enjoying their Sunday lunch.

BONUS: Sorry

We all known the well-worn stereotype... but do Brits really say sorry for everything?

The answer is: Well, sort of.

Brits are famous for their apologies, and in most cases, this rings true. A study in 2016 found that 1 in 8 British people say sorry up to 20 times a day. However, while Brits do say sorry a lot, we’re sorry to say, but they don’t really mean it. The ‘sorry’ you might hear when you bump into someone on the tube acts more like a marker of politeness and goodwill than actual regret. The same could be said about somebody who prefaces a statement with ‘Sorry to interrupt’: they’re probably just being polite.

This is called phatic communication, a linguistic term for any kind of communication that performs a social function instead of conveying literal meaning. You can find phatic communication in all cultures, especially ones that prioritise social harmony.

Some things are only learned through experience: that’s the magic of cultural immersion.

Language learning is so much more than words on a page, which is why our residential English courses prioritise immersive cultural excursions alongside exceptional classroom teaching. Take a look at our centres in London and Eastbourne and you might just find yourself in Spoons ordering a cheeky pint.