There is a received wisdom in Britain that the Americans don't get irony. It is often believed to be one of the most common differences between the British and American sense of humor. This is of course not true. One of the major differences seems to be how often both nations use irony. The British use irony on a daily basis. They use it as freely as prepositions in everyday speech. They make fun of their friends. They use sarcasm as a shield and a weapon. They avoid sincerity until it's absolutely necessary. They mercilessly make fun of everyone, including themselves. This is very important, for it shows not only their pride but self-deprecation as well. Their brashness and swagger are laden with equal portions of self-deprecation. This is their license to hand it out.