LifestyleLife in the UKAn American man who moved to the UK with his family has expressed his shock at the 'brutal' British culture shock he wasn't prepared for that would be 'off limits' back home09:42, 30 May 2026A man who swapped life in his native United States for the UK has admitted he wasn't prepared for one particular "culture shock" on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Zach Lincoln, who made the move with his family, said at first he found the experience a "brutal" one to deal with.‌"There is one major culture shock Americans will not be prepared for when they get to the UK - and I say this as an American who was not prepared for it," he began in a TikTok video. "Personally, I was too emotionally fragile for it at first."‌WARNING – explicit language in TikTok video below, viewer discretion advised...‌Content cannot be displayed without consentThat culture shock? "Friends and family members take the p*** out of each other," Zach continued, noting this comes in many forms.He elaborated to his fellow Americans: "What that means is they harass each other, they make fun of each other, they make jokes about each other... in a playful way of course."‌Zach went on to explain he was caught off guard when he first heard such "banter", not fully grasping the British "dry sense of humour"."Sometimes it sounds pretty brutal," he declared. "They also use multiple four-letter words that are completely off limits in our society!" he closed. "So again, the first few times you here these, you're like, 'You can't say that!' But they do!"Writing in response, one Brit quipped: "It’s true - and the more you like someone the more mean!"‌A second added: "If we are nice and friendly to each other it means we are not sure and not friends."Then a third informed Zach: "Over complementing someone and being over smiley is seen as being fake here, not everyone who smiles is your friend!"While a fourth TikTok user pointed out: "My family are absolutely ruthless but it’s character development and banter."Article continues belowIn a separate video, Zach opened up on another aspect of British culture that his brain "simply cannot process".He explained: "It came to my attention that after making my daughter a turkey sandwich and posted it, someone asked what kind of butter I used. And I was like, 'What do you mean, butter? It's just some turkey, some mayonnaise and maybe some cheese'."And it became a discussion and I found out that you guys all put butter on your sandwiches. I have not been the same since finding that information out. I've never done it and I'm not sure I am capable of it."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Life in the UKNormal PeopleTikTok