This has, iirc, led to some definite communication issues with allies. I think it was in the Korean war when a British unit was asked by an American unit what their status was. The reply was: just a bit sticky. Americans thought: all good no problem. British meant: we are surrounded, out of ammo and are about to be overrun.
this post was submitted on 01 Mar 2026
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Hehe, yeah, the Brits were surrounded by something like 20k Chinese soldiers, as I recall. A bit sticky indeed.
What happened to them do you know?
I don't, but from this wiki article it sounds like at least some survivors were eventually rescued:
The surviving Glosters were rescued by a column of tanks; they escaped under fire, sitting on the decks of the tank.
Further reading: Battle of the Imjin River
The water company is probably privatized
They're doing a great job, look at all that fresh water!
Fresh water, directly from the Themes.
Stiff upper lip my chap.
Could be worse.
Dutch*
Mustn't grumble.
Could I ask for explanation?
It's an English stereotype that they feel awkward when expressing emotions and would rather suffer silently than "impose" on someone by asking for help.
(edit: or at least that was my read. The other person who replied might be right that it could be a joke about recent events, because they arrest 30+ people per day for social media posts.)
Keep a stiff upper lip, old chap.
thanks
Ohhh I thought there was some stereotype about Brits getting water leaks all the time, that clears it up.
I guess Pink Floyd was referring to this in the song Time:
"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way."
You can't complain in the UK any more, or you'll be jailed.
oi, you got a license for that complaining?
Yankees are so over the top whenever they yell something that they believe the British speak in euphemisms all the time.
Of course this stereotype wouldn't exist if they knew how to speak more than one language, or if non-native speakers didn't usually learn simplified English.
Tis but a scratch
I guess I'm British?
Unless they're in Australia and NZ, then they become "Whinging Poms" because they used to not be able to handle the weather and culture.
Living the dream
Where's the "innit" and the "loicense" mentions?
Tja. Kann nicht klagen.
"Keine Kraft mehr zum klagen"
Oh yeah? Ask me about the weather, I dare you.
Read: Dr Livingstone, I presume
So... am I just too American to understand the joke? Because my family watches a LOT of British TV and I swear to God it doesn't matter what the show is but basically half of all dialogue is either a complaint or an insult (which is just a complaint about someone else if you think about it). Like, it there some meta humor I'm not getting? Or is it more of a TV vs Real Life thing?