The British are not back slappers or touchers and generally do not display affection in public. Hugging, kissing and touching is usually reserved for family members and very close friends. The British like a certain amount of personal space.
Hugging, kissing and high-fiving are definitely more informal greetings in the UK and not something you would normally do when meeting someone for the first time. These types of greetings are usually for friends, family and small children.
Brits also like to keep their displays of affection private. For example, North American people tend to hug and kiss people in public, whereas Brits like to do their cuddling and romancing behind closed doors.
The English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our politeness, self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is expected.
Understated, good humoured, light on the emotions; this was British stoicism at its best. We all lug stereotypes around, our perennial ball and chain. We British, according to many outsiders, are reserved, repressed, resilient, unemotional and self-controlled.
The phrase is most commonly heard as part of the idiom "keep a stiff upper lip", and has traditionally been used to describe an attribute of British people in remaining resolute and unemotional when faced with adversity. A sign of fear is trembling of the upper lip, hence the saying keep a "stiff" upper lip.
The British take pride in being courteous. In a 2015 research on politeness in cultures, the UK ranked top in European cultures to express appreciation. You'll hear sorry and thank you everywhere you go – the Brits may be famed for being polite, but why so?
'Dear' is the only real addition to the standard 'darling' that most couples will need, with perhaps a 'love' and a standard 'darling' thrown in here and there. Come the 60-year anniversary, many British couples are content with a few grunts over the breakfast tea and toast.
The term love in Britain is often written as luv, and it gets used simply as a title most of the time.
A handshake is the most common greeting, and should be firm yet not too strong. When greeting each other, close friends may hug or kiss one another on the cheek, while others may simply offer a nod. In some casual settings, your name may be announced to the group at large.
A handshake is the most common form of greeting among the English and British people and is customary when you are introduced to somebody new. It is only when you meet friends, whom you haven't seen for a long time, that you would kiss the cheek of the opposite sex. In Britain one kiss is generally enough.
Brits are known for their fair skin and inability to tan. A high proportion, around 86%, of the UK is white, whilst the remaining proportion is made up of Asian, black and mixed ethnicities. Although some of us go golden in the sun of Southern Europe, the majority of us turn as red as a lobster!
Men of Chinese descent had the largest total lip volume. Regarding upper lip (measured from the midline of the upper lip vermilion border) to lower lip height ratio, Chinese women were found to have a mean ratio of 1:1.25 when measured both by caliper and surface distance.
Stoicism and Reservedness
The British have earned a reputation for remaining stoic and maintaining a 'stiff upper lip' through tough times. This has been largely shaped by the hardships faced during the First and Second World Wars, as well as the post-war period.
Blue skin and lips is usually caused by low blood oxygen levels or poor circulation. It can be a sign of a serious problem. Call 999 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately if you notice an adult or child suddenly turning blue.