This hilarious table below shows just how difficult it can be for a foreigner to understand what the British really mean when they’re speaking — especially for the more naïve among us who take every word at face value.
Phrases that tend to be the trickiest to decipher include “you must come for dinner,” which many (including us Americans) interpret as a direct invitation, but is actually said out of politeness by many Britons who have absolutely no intention of having you over for dinner at all.
And be sure to run for the hills when a British person begins a sentence like this: “With the greatest respect…” They actually mean, “I think you are an idiot.”
Check it out (h/t: The Telegraph):
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