this post was submitted on 27 Sep 2023
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[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 72 points 2 years 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@lemmy.sdf.org 43 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 21 points 2 years 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 2 years ago (3 children)

That’s… still only two.

[–] Delphia@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years 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 5 points 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years ago

Thinly cut chips. Fat chips. Crisps.

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[–] cybervseas@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

What do they ask in order to clarify?

ETA: "french fries or crisps?"

[–] psud@aussie.zone 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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)
[–] MargotRobbie@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Pretty much.

[–] jcit878@lemmy.world 27 points 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years ago (2 children)

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

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[–] Creazle@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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

[–] 2deck@lemmy.world 24 points 2 years 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 2 years ago
[–] stilgar 23 points 2 years ago

They're Hot Chips if you're being fancy

[–] Treczoks@kbin.social 20 points 2 years ago

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

[–] set_secret@lemmy.world 19 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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

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[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 2 years ago

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

[–] FrostbyteIX@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Let's confuse them even more:

Hot chips and potato chips.

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[–] badcommandorfilename@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You see, Chips are deep fried slices of potato, but Chips are ..

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[–] veroxii@aussie.zone 10 points 2 years 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.

[–] MentallyExhausted@reddthat.com 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

They’re freedom fries now

[–] zebs@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (9 children)

Errr... I'm from the UK and they're fries. These are chips If it's think it's fries, if it's thick it's a chip.

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[–] zeppo@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

My friend from Adelaide always says crisps.

[–] MxM111@kbin.social 32 points 2 years ago (3 children)

How do you have a conversation if they always say a single word?

[–] zeppo@lemmy.world 15 points 2 years ago

We got to know each other well prior to her conversion. She took a strict vow of silence, excluding “crisps”. We still talk. It’s impressive how much she can express with inflection.

[–] Hotdogman@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)
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[–] Wrench@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years 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 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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 2 years ago (4 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 2 years ago (2 children)

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

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[–] Kichae@kbin.social 5 points 2 years 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 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years 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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[–] x4740N@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years 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

[–] Swarfega@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago

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

[–] Ddhuud@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago

Papas fritas, papas fritas.

[–] casmael@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago

Wait really?

[–] dadGPT@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

the only question i have is why does the person representing aussies looks like Jackie Chan?

Yeah, that rage comic reaction was made from a Jackie Chan image.

[–] dimeslime@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Fun fact: he lived in Australia in the 70s.

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