While the two countries may share a language, the sense of humour in the USA and UK is often as different as tea and coffee. It’s not that Americans struggle to find things funny—it’s just that British comedy can sometimes be a little specific in its style. Here are some reasons why Brits don’t always get the laughs they’re expecting across the pond.
Too Much Sarcasm
For Brits, sarcasm seeps into everyday conversations, used as much to make a point as to make someone laugh, but sarcasm, particularly when delivered in that famous deadpan tone, can be a hard sell for Americans. Without the shift in tone, they might not even realise a joke has been made.
Love of the Awkward
If there’s one thing British humour loves, it’s the art of the cringe, like an excruciatingly awkward conversation or a long silence that stretches into eternity—people from the UK find these moments absolutely hilarious, yet Americans don’t. They tend to have a much lower tolerance for discomfort in their comedy.
Dark and Morbid Jokes
Jokes about death, failure, and even tragedy are par for the course in comedy from the United Kingdom, and to many, these topics are ripe for laughs because they tap into life’s absurdity. Those native to the U.S., though, often find this type of humour a bit unsettling, as they tend to view comedy as a way to escape life, not dwell in it.
Subtlety Over Punchlines
Often hiding its jokes in plain sight, British humour slips them into conversations so subtly that you might miss them if you’re not paying close attention; Americans, on the other hand, are used to jokes that announce themselves—a setup, a pause, and then a clear punchline. This difference in delivery can leave Americans wondering if a Brit even made a joke at all.
Self-Deprecation Over Confidence
If there’s one thing people from England excel at, it’s making fun of themselves. They’re quick to point out their own flaws, shortcomings, or embarrassing moments, often with a mix of pride and resignation. Those from across the pond—while not immune to self-deprecating humour—tend to prefer comedy with a bit more confidence.
Dry Humour Can Feel Cold
If you’re from Great Britain, then you know this country’s dry humour is all about restraint, with no exaggerated delivery, no obvious “I’m kidding” signals—just a quick, understated comment that lands almost imperceptibly. While Brits love this type of humour for its cleverness and subtlety, those from the states can find it hard to decode.
Reluctance to Laugh at Themselves
Comedians in this part of the world often find comedy in their own culture, poking fun at everything, including their government and their national quirks. They expect their audience to laugh along with them, even at the expense of British pride, while Americans can sometimes feel uncomfortable with this kind of joke.
Obsession with Class
Class divides are a favourite topic in the United Kingdom’s comedy scene, with plenty of jokes aimed at the posh elites, the working-class hero, or the pretentious middle class. But to people from the U.S., it might feel like the comedian is focusing on something irrelevant or, worse, trying to alienate the audience.
Complex Wordplay
We love a clever turn of phrase, a pun, or a bit of linguistic trickery, don’t we? While Americans enjoy a good pun too, British wordplay often goes a step further, layering jokes so that they require a bit of unpacking, and this can leave foreigners feeling like they’re missing something.
A Love of Irony
Irony doesn’t always translate well across the Atlantic because people living in the USA don’t use it as liberally in their comedy. The British thrive on saying the opposite of what’s meant, leaving it to the audience to catch on, so for those who are more accustomed to directness, this can feel unnecessarily complicated/
Lack of Physical Comedy
Relying more on dialogue, wit, and situational absurdity, comedy from the UK can be a stark contrast to the healthy dose of physical comedy that Americans are used to, such as over-the-top gestures and exaggerated facial expressions. British comedy feels too restrained sometimes for this reason—or, worse, boring.
Comedies That Don’t End Happily
Sitcoms and sketches out of the United Kingdom will often take pride in leaving things in a state messier than where they began, due to the fact that the idea of a clean, happy resolution isn’t a priority for this country’s humour. Yet those in the U.S. love a satisfying ending that ties everything together.
Too Many Cultural References
Americans might find themselves lost when a comedian riffs on the peculiarities of cricket, the class system, or British politics. Without this shared cultural knowledge, the humour feels inaccessible, leaving Americans feeling like they’re not in on the joke.
Love of the Antihero
Many comedies out of Great Britain centre on characters who are deeply flawed or downright unlikable; they might be selfish, bumbling, or perpetually unlucky, but Brits find their imperfections funny. Unfortunately, not many people from the U.S. feel the same way about this type of character.
No Laugh Tracks
Trusting the audience to decide for themselves what’s funny, the British usually avoid the laughter track, and this minimalist approach works for native viewers—yet to those overseas, it can feel alien. Without the familiar sound of canned laughter to guide them, American audiences might miss the punchlines.
Jokes About Failure
Whether it’s a character struggling to do something mundane or a complete disaster unfolding, Brits find joy in watching people muddle through, compared to people from the states who usually prefer their comedy to lean into success. To them, constant failure can feel less like a joke and more like a bummer.
Long, Drawn-Out Build-Ups
Patience is a virtue in Britain and in its comedy, where the humour often takes its time to reveal itself through awkward pauses and meandering setups. Locals sure do love the slow burn, yet U.S. folks are used to quicker pacing and immediate payoffs, quickly losing patience before the punchline even arrives.
Regional Accents and Slang
It’s not uncommon for comedy within the United Kingdom to make use of a wide range of regional accents and slang, so that it can add layers of cultural depth to the jokes. While this resonates deeply with a British audience, it can leave Americans feeling lost thanks to a thick Glaswegian accent or a Yorkshire phrase they’re unfamiliar with.
Humour That’s Too Smart
If you’re a UK comedian, you’ll pride yourself on being clever, weaving in references to literature, history, or obscure trivia that requires the audience to think. Those across the pond appreciate wit too, of course, but they tend to prefer jokes that are more accessible and not one that requires homework to understand.
Focus on Everyday Mundanity
On a final note, it’s common for British humour to go over the mundane details of everyday life for laughs—like awkward small talk or the dreariness of a rainy day. While this resonates deeply with the local audiences, residents of the USA tend to prefer comedy that’s larger-than-life with big scenarios and even bigger characters.