“People who insist on calculating in detail exactly who had what when it comes to dividing up the bill are despised, not just because they are miserly, but because such discussions involve a prolonged breach of the money-talk taboo.” — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“...fine love poetry tends to be written when the object of one's affection is at a safe distance; also, it often reflects a love… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“People who insist on calculating in detail exactly who had what when it comes to dividing up the bill are despised, not just because… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Humour is our 'default mode', if you like: we do not have to switch it on deliberately, and we cannot switch it off.” — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
A truly English protest march would see us all chanting: 'What do we want? GRADUAL CHANGE! When do we want it? IN DUE COURSE! — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Every social situation is fraught with ambiguity, knee-deep in complication, hidden meanings, veiled power-struggles, passive-aggression and paranoid confusion.” — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“The understatement rule means that a debilitating and painful chronic illness must be described as ‘a bit of a nuisance’; a truly horrific experience… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
Men gossip for just as long and about the same subjects as women, but tend to talk more about themselves. — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Even the English, who understand it, are not exactly riotously amused by the understatement. At best, a well-timed, well-turned understatement only raises a slight… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
Male and female gossip also sounds different, as women use more animated tones, more detail and more feedback. — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Many of those who pontificate about "acculturation" are inclined to underestimate this element of choice. Such processes are often described in terms suggesting that… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Native speakers can rarely explain the grammatical rules of their own language. In the same way, those who are most ‘fluent’ in the rituals,… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
Researchers have found very little difference between men and women in terms of the amount of time spent gossiping. — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“Class in England is no more determined by wealth than it is by occupation.” — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
“The reasons for our prolific understating are not hard to discover: our strict prohibitions on earnestness, gushing, emoting and boasting require almost constant use… — Kate Fox Copy Share Image
