What does posh mean, you ask? Well, if you’ve ever called dinner “supper,” referred to the bathroom as “the lavatory,” or caught yourself surrounded by portraits of your illustrious ancestors, congratulations—you’re likely rubbing elbows with Britain’s upper crust.
A new nationwide survey has pinpointed precisely which quirks set posh folks apart in the ever-bemusing tapestry of British class hierarchy.
Think greeting old friends with a hearty “Darling!” while driving a vintage Land Rover Defender, sporting a trusty tweed jacket, or politely quizzing newcomers, “Where did you school?”
Each habit is a telltale sign of life in that rarified realm. Still wondering what does posh mean? It’s more than just lavish spending.
According to 81% of survey respondents, money alone doesn’t give you the right to dust off the old coat of arms.
If you’re grown—and still call your parents “mummy” and “daddy”—24% of Brits would argue you’ve earned a posh badge of honour.
Need further proof? A family wine cellar (26%) and an Aga cooker (10%) all hint at upper-crust living, while boarding school tops the list as the highest sign of true-blue nobility, with 34% of people naming it as the defining trait.
But let’s not stop there. Latin lessons (13%), a weathered Barbour jacket (13%), and some aristocratic coat of arms (22%) can raise eyebrows across the kingdom.
| Posh Trait | Percentage |
|---|---|
| You went to boarding school | 34% |
| You have antiques and family heirlooms | 28% |
| You have a wine cellar | 26% |
| You have paintings of your ancestors | 26% |
| You belong to an old private members club | 25% |
| You NEVER discuss money | 25% |
| You call your parents “mummy” and “daddy” even as an adult | 24% |
| You have a family coat of arms | 23% |
| You ride horses | 22% |
| Your dinner parties are catered | 22% |
| You know how to eat properly with a knife and fork | 20% |
| You have a gardener | 20% |
| You call dinner “supper” | 20% |
| You have silver | 19% |
| You send proper invites to parties by post | 18% |
| You have a family tree | 17% |
| You shoot | 17% |
| You ski | 16% |
| You wear tweed jackets | 16% |
| You call everyone “darling” | 16% |
| You play croquet | 15% |
| You ask people “where did you school?” | 15% |
| You call Champagne “Champers” | 14% |
| You call the toilet “the loo” | 14% |
| You drive an old Land Rover Defender | 14% |
| You wear an old Barbour jacket | 13% |
| You know Latin | 13% |
| You have shelves full of books | 13% |
| You eat partridge and grouse | 13% |
| You call your friends by their surnames | 12% |
| You are good at small talk | 12% |
| You have a double-barreled name | 12% |
| You love cricket | 12% |
| You wear a gilet | 11% |
| You like rugby but not football | 11% |
| You say “napkin” instead of “serviette” | 10% |
| You laugh very loudly | 10% |
| You have an Aga | 10% |
| You prefer loose leaf tea | 10% |
| You live in wellies | 9% |
And before you assume it’s all about bulging wallets, consider this: a staggering 65% of Britons claim they can spot a posh friend based purely on outward signals—maybe a pair of plus-fours or that old Defender in the driveway—yet only 22% say they actually aspire to join the lofty club.
David Arnold of Perspectus Global, the group behind the survey, neatly sums it up: “This list reveals what modern Brits consider posh.
Yet only 22% of us would like to be posh, showing most of us are happy without a coat of arms or a wine cellar.”
Indeed, many prefer not to fuss with partridge and grouse for supper or line the walls with ancestors’ likenesses in gilded frames.
Whether you’re living in stately grandeur or content with your cosy corner of the realm, these posh pointers show that the British class system endures—tweedy jackets, skiing holidays, and all.
After all, variety is the spice of life, and who doesn’t enjoy a bit of genteel charm with their afternoon cuppa?
