this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2023
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[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 78 points 1 year ago (3 children)

As an Australian I can comment on this, theres this wonderful thing called "Context"

At McDonalds they refer to them as fries, but if you ask for a large chips, they know what you mean. If you go into a petrol station and ask where the crisps are, nobodies head explodes. If you go into a place that has ALL 3 (french fries, chips and crisps) and say "Can I get some chips" the person will ask for clarificaton.

British roots and American television has made OUR english quite flexible.

[–] DarkDarkHouse 48 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I was with you until "ALL 3"... help

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (2 children)

French fries and chips

As a rule most people I know think of french fries or fries as thin cut and chips as thick cut. Most restaraunts only do one or the other. If you ask for steak and chips and they do fries, they will either clarify for you (more likely) or just bring you fries.

[–] ramble81@lemm.ee 11 points 1 year ago (3 children)

That’s… still only two.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Context and qualifying information. All 3 are considered "chips" like a baguette, a hot dog bun and a regular sandwich loaf are all "bread"

Nobody asks for steak and chips expecting a packet of potato chips next to a plate with just a steak on it. People usually ask for "A packet of salt and vinegar chips please" they dont just shout "CHIPS!" at someone expecting them to figure shit out. If I were to send a child to the shop I would give specific information. "A Big bag of plain chips" or "A large hot chips"

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody asks for steak and chips expecting a packet of potato chips next to a plate with just a steak on it.

You're in for a whole experience then if you ever visit Scotland!

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Ive been, the country that invented haggis doesnt get to enter in on food discussions.

A Scot went to culinary school and had to be told "boiling" something is just like deep frying but with water before he understood.

[–] thegiddystitcher@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

Thinly cut chips. Fat chips. Crisps.

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[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Pretty much.

[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

What do they ask in order to clarify?

ETA: "french fries or crisps?"

[–] psud@aussie.zone 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not many places offer both, but "a packet of barbeque chips" vs "$5 worth of chips" or "small chips" are were distinct

In the imaginary situation where there are all three (why not more!)

  • chips (thick hot chips)
  • fries (thin hot chips)
  • packet of chips (crisps)
[–] jcit878@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago (2 children)

it holds, but we might refer to "fries" as hot chips if there's possibility of confusion

[–] Brickhead92@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would say the distinction between fries and chips is the thickness.

Macca's has fries, KFC and a lot of other places have chips.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Do they have Red Rooster and Chicken Treat in the US?

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[–] Creazle@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I dunno, man. It's always been 'hot chips' for people I know if clarification is needed

[–] 2deck@lemmy.world 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's context sensitive. We know what we mean.

  1. "I'm going to pick up some chips on my way to your place."
  2. "Hey, can i have some of your chips?"

Couldn't be simpler.

[–] jackoneill@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago
[–] set_secret@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

as an Australian let me explain, fast to get, unhealthy potato = chips.

That does seem simpler at least.

[–] Treczoks@kbin.social 20 points 1 year ago

Shut up and get some real i.e. Belgian fries.

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 1 year ago

This isn't poking fun at us, this is just facts :)

[–] stilgar@infosec.pub 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They're Hot Chips if you're being fancy

[–] jscummy@sh.itjust.works 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)
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[–] FrostbyteIX@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let's confuse them even more:

Hot chips and potato chips.

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[–] veroxii@aussie.zone 10 points 1 year ago

Usually not a problem because of context but you can easily specify hot chips or packet chips in places where they might have both such as a school or sports canteen.

[–] x4740N@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

It's communicated by context cues the same way one word has different meanings and context points to towards the meaning the person is communicating with a word

Though it does get annoying when the context cues are missing for example someone asking you if you want chips and not specifying what type

I'm guessing Australian language for "chips" calls them both that because they are a product made from potato that is usually salted and the two in the image are just different styles of the same potato product

[–] Wrench@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Just came back from Australia. Chips (or crisps) don't seem to exist anywhere but grocery/convenience stores. So I never really heard them referred to as anything.

Restaurants exclusively serve fries as far as I could tell. Even with sandwiches. And they call them "chips" whether they are skinny or fat.

[–] Deceptichum@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Where the fuck are you going to find a packet of chips outside of a supermarket. Restaurants overseas aren’t selling this shit alongside hot chips are they?

Also you can use fries, it’s not common and it really only refers to the little thin fuckers you get at maccas or some other fast food shitheap.

[–] exoplanetary@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

American here. Yeah, chips/crisps are sold in restaurants. They’re usually bagged too lmao. Like the restaurant just got them from the supermarket.

[–] almar_quigley@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Please specify that is like super casual restaurants and maybe fast food. Not a general thing.

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[–] Deceptichum@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Geez okay, that’s, just wow. Like why? What sort of person buys this.

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[–] Kichae@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Chips (or crisps) don’t seem to exist anywhere but grocery/convenience stores.

That... that's normal, right? That's where chips are supposed to come from.

Like, I have been to a restaurant or two that had "chips" on the menu, usually as "fish and chips" or some other battered and fried stick of meat "and chips" where, to my supreme bewilderment, the side was a pile of Lays, but, like, those restaurants were universally run by geriatrics in the middle of nowhere, served food on paper plates, and where wrong.

[–] Wrench@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

From the perspective of an American, chips or crisps are a common side for lunch foods, particularly for sandwiches. In fancier restaurants / cafes, they can be fancier "kettle chips" which can also be house made.

I know fancy "crisps" may not make much sense outside of America, but we have taken thinly slice fried potatoes to a gourmet level here.

Edit- also, tortilla chips are also a common side in southern California, and they are not at all like anything you can get overseas without really looking. And no, I'm not talking about Tostitos style chips that are used for shitty dips.

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[–] Swarfega@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

I've not seen that lulzsec character in a long long time...

[–] Ddhuud@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Papas fritas, papas fritas.

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Wait really?

[–] MentallyExhausted@reddthat.com 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They’re freedom fries now

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[–] Synthead@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

You know which one is what cause they call them potato chips

Yes this does hold up

[–] CookieJarObserver@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] Teon@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

Flat chips and stick chips.

[–] ThrowawayPermanente@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Latin America: Hold my beer

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[–] Wilzax@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The best way is to use fries and crisps, and reserve chips for chocolate

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