Not buying your round
Informal Can sound rude
What it really means
Accepting drinks from others but never buying a round back is one of the most noticed social offences in British pub culture. Nobody will confront you — you'll just get a reputation as tight (mean with money). If money is short, it's fine to say "I'll sit this one out" or come for just one drink and buy your own.
Chinese explanation
接受别人请的酒却从不回请一轮，是英国酒吧文化里最遭人诟病的社交失礼之一。没人会当面指责你——但你会落下"抠门"的名声。手头紧的话，可以说"这轮我先不喝了"，或者只喝一杯、自己买自己的，都没问题。
Example conversation
A: Has Dan ever actually bought a round?
B: Not once in three years. He's lovely, but everyone's noticed, believe me.
A：Dan到底请过一轮酒吗？
B：三年一次都没有。人是不错，但相信我，大家都注意到了。
What you could say back
No spoken reply needed for this one.
Related phrases
Go deeper
All Customs & Etiquette
Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team
· Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake