BRITISH CUSTOMS AND HABITS

Queuing

Queuing is a feature of British life that seems to fascinate visitors. If you have not witnessed ‘queuing’ before, it is simply the way in which people form a line (as children do in most primary schools) in a shop or when they buy a ticket etc., with the intention of allowing those who arrive first to be served first. It is advisable to take your place in the queue and not to push your way to the front, as this may annoy other people in the queue. If you are really in a desperate hurry, people will almost always let you through to the front if you just ask politely.

Forms of greeting

All cultures have unspoken/unwritten rules about how to behave when you meet someone. It is not possible to go into all the different forms of appropriate behaviour here, but in Britain it is normal to shake hands when you meet someone, especially for the first time. This is acceptable for both men and women. In Britain, unlike some other European countries, it is not usual to embrace or kiss the other person (unless they are family or a very close friend).

You may find it unusual that the British address other people by their first names, particularly if your own culture uses more formal terms of address. It is quite normal for students, for instance, to address their tutors or other members of staff (including professors) by their first names. However, if you feel more comfortable using surnames when talking to members of staff, then it is quite all right to do so. If people are called by their last name then this is preceded by the titles Mr (for men) and Ms (for women). Some women will prefer to be called Mrs (for married women) or Miss (unmarried), but Ms is usually now quite commonly used, unless corrected by the woman in question.

Please/Thank you/Sorry

These words are the most used (perhaps over-used) in the English language. In some cultures it is appropriate to say ‘thank you’ if, perhaps someone has just saved your life, but in Britain it is normal to say ‘thank you’, ‘please’ etc. for seemingly small things. There are no absolute rules about where and when you use these polite terms, but you should certainly use them when shopping, addressing strangers or on public transport. Even in the home, family members will use ‘thank you’ and ‘please’ with one another and it would be considered rude not to. British feel more comfortable when these words and phrases are introduced into conversation than if they are omitted.

Punctuality

Be aware of the British attitude to promptness and keeping appointments. It is considered impolite to be late or to miss an appointment. If you have made an arrangement and you have been delayed and/or cannot make the appointment, then do make an effort to contact the person to let them know. In certain cases, (for example, dentists’ appointments) you may be charged for the missed appointment if you do not give sufficient notice of cancellation (usually 48 hours).

Making friends

British people are generally friendly but relationships may take some effort at first. Women in Britain are independent and are accustomed to entering public places unaccompanied. The best way to make friends is to start chatting to people on your course or where you are staying, over a cup of tea or coffee and to join in the activities and societies offered by your Students’ Union.

Visiting others

It is customary in Britain for invitations to visit someone’s house to be for a prearranged time and day. As a generalisation most people are not comfortable if people just drop in, and in most houses the front door is kept closed. However, if someone suggests you drop round any time, you should not feel worried about doing so as long as it is not in the middle of the night.

Slang words

You can get by in Britain if you can speak and understand standard English. But to make yourself feel completely at home, you need to have some knowledge of the British ‘slang’. Spoken English in Britain contains many non-standard words and phrases, whose meaning is not clear to an untrained visitor. Here are some of the slang words that you will probably encounter during your stay as a student:

Slang words

All right?:	‘Hello, how are you’? (a form of greeting)
Aye:	Yes (in Scotland)
He went ballistic:	He went mad
Bangers:	Sausages
Bloke:	Male
Brilliant:	Great or awesome
Bladdered:	Drunk
Blimey:	An expression of surprise
Blinding:	Great
Bloody:	Word generally used for emphasis
Bollocks:	Rubbish
It cost a bomb:	It was expensive
Chips:	French fries
Copper:	Policeman
Chat up:	To be flirtatious
Cheesed off:	Upset
Cock up:	Mistake
Cracking:	Good
Crikey:	Another exclamation of surprise
What's the damage:	What will it cost?
Dosh:	Money
Daft:	Stupid
Dim:	Stupid
Dodgy:	Bad quality or untrustworthy
Dull:	Boring
Fancy:	Like or desire
She or he's fit:	She or he's good looking
Flog:	Sell
Fortnight:	Two weeks
Geezer:	An old man
Git:	An undesirable person
Grub:	Food
Gutted:	Sad or upset
Haggle:	Barter or negotiate
Jolly good:	Very good
Kip:	A short nap
Knackered:	Tired
Loaded:	Very rich
Loony:	Mad or crazy
Mate:	A friend
Mug:	Naive
Naff:	Uncool
Na:	No (in Scotland)
Nice one!:	A compliment on a job well done
Nick:	Steal
Pants:	Bad
It was peanuts:	It was cheap
Piece of cake:	Easy
Pissed:	Drunk
Pissing around:	Fooling about
Plastered:	Drunk
Posh:	High class
Puke:	Vomit
Pukka:	Super
Quid:	A pound (currency)
Shag:	To have sex
Snog:	Kiss
Ta:	Thanks (short form)
Taking the mickey:	Making fun of
Taking the piss:	Making fun of
Up for it:	To be available
Uni:	University (short form)
Wind up:	Making fun of
Wee:	Little/small (in Scotland)
Wicked:	Great

Business hours

Offices are generally open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. However, shops are open later and are also open at the weekends.