This American mocked Brits for saying ‘washing-up liquid’ and these 18 comebacks will make you proud to be British
We feature no end of transatlantic confusion – and sometimes just plain old conflict – on these pages, but this one really is a classic of the genre.
It’s a tweet that went viral – so very viral – a little while back about Brits’ penchant for saying ‘washing up liquid’ rather than – stand by your beds – ‘dish soap’.
most american reactions to britishism are overplayed but saying “washing-up liquid” instead of dish soap is truly insane
— gabriel (@castleb0y) September 5, 2025
A few people had other Britishisms to bring to everyone’s attention.
“inverted commas” is my pick for craziest one
— hilltop (@la___cuna) September 6, 2025
I hate when they say satnav instead of gps but otherwise I respect them
— mia (@rasputinboneym) September 5, 2025
i still wanna know why its baps instead of buns. kind of feels like we switched one bodily euphemism for another
— toast/some-bread (@somebreaddo) September 6, 2025
while we’re at it, ‘chuffed’ meaning ‘pleased’ is ridiculous. It is inherently phonetically negative https://t.co/20t6xyfAOI
— horse powder (@JuliusIrvington) September 6, 2025
The one that really fucks me up is “fancy dress” means costume, like a halloween costume type of costume
— Smoooty (@Smooooty) September 6, 2025
But, of course, the British weren’t prepared to take the diss lying down and these 18 transatlantic pushbacks totally cleaned up.
1.
its literally liquid for washing up what’s the problem
— fin luvs da pitt (@finbeess) September 6, 2025
2.
Insane is when you leave your apartment, go down in the elevator and get into your automobile, when you could just leave your flat, go down in the lift and get into your car.
— Col4Cats (@candersonabc) September 7, 2025
3.
Like calling a bin the garbage disposal can ot whatever the fuck it is you mental twats call them
— Hardcore To The Bone (@HardcoreNostal1) September 6, 2025
4.
just washing my dishes with my dish soap
just washing my hands with my hand soap
just washing my ass with my ass soap
ridiculous
— Paul Burow-Newton (@PaulBN) September 6, 2025
5.
Hello X (Twitter). Why does the algorithm keep showing me posts of Americans making fun of how we do/ say things in Britain. And what’s wrong with calling the liquid that you wash dishes with ‘Washing Up Liquid’? https://t.co/51Jb2xq3ws
— Meera (@enchantedsocks) September 6, 2025
6.
Try saying “Fanny Pack” to a British person
— Court Reinland (@Court_Reinland) September 6, 2025
7.
— Global Index (@TheGlobal_Index) September 7, 2025
8.
‘I’m going to fill my car up with gas’
*Fills car up with a liquid instead*
— Peter ️ (@p_crosland) September 7, 2025
9.
Look I know American is a corporationalist dystopia and all where you have to pay for everything, but have they started charging you for syllable usage in spoken conversation now?!?! https://t.co/W8ybJF8Ojw
— Jac – actually on hiatus again (@JacCooper1) September 6, 2025