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.
I was with you until “ALL 3”… help
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.
That’s… still only two.
What do they ask in order to clarify?
ETA: “french fries or crisps?”
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)
Pretty much.
as an Australian let me explain, fast to get, unhealthy potato = chips.
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.I’m American, and I’d call those steak fries. We also have potato wedges, which aren’t called fries for some reason and look like this
They’re seasoned with a spice blend, and delicious. Do you have curly fries in the UK? They’re a similar flavor.
In the US, those would be called either “steak fries”, “potato wedges”, or perhaps “Jojos”.
They’re called JoJo’s. I will die on this hill. Same goes for pop and hotdish.
Ugh, “pop”. Your comment has mad Midwest vibes; you sound like my grandma.
Wtf is hotdish? I’ve never even heard of that before. Even my phone is telling me that that’s not a real word.
Honestly, the Midwest is something else. It’s like they intentionally do everything their own fucked up way just because.
“Reece’s Pieces? We’re gonna call them ‘Reecie’s Piecies’, even though the name isn’t ever pronounced ‘Reecie’ and the word is not ever pronounced ‘piecie’, because fuck you.”
You guys yell at anyone putting ketchup on a hotdog because it’s too sweet, and then proceed to absolutely drown it in sweet relish, the most foul condiment known to man. You guys have no right to consider yourselves the hotdog aficionados after that and only a fool would believe you.
According to wikipedia
A hotdish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup that must be served hot or warm.
So it’s just a casserole. Sounds yummy
Honestly I’m so onboard with hotdish. “Casserole” is one of the least appetizing names for a type of food.
it holds, but we might refer to “fries” as hot chips if there’s possibility of confusion
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.
Do they have Red Rooster and Chicken Treat in the US?
I’ve never heard of either so my guess is no.
Let’s confuse them even more:
Hot chips and potato chips.
How about a bag of French Fries potato chips?
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.
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.
American here. Yeah, chips/crisps are sold in restaurants. They’re usually bagged too lmao. Like the restaurant just got them from the supermarket.
Geez okay, that’s, just wow. Like why? What sort of person buys this.
Americans use chips like a condiment. They even have preferences as to which flavours go on what sandwich or burger fillings. They’re redneck sommeliers.
Chips on a sandwich just gives it such a nice texture. Plus it’s extra salt and fat, what’s not to like?
Restaurants exclusively serve fries as far as I could tell. Even with sandwiches.
Even with sandwiches
Wat
In America, fries with sandwiches does exist, but it’s more of a Diner thing, or restaurants that serve burgers and other entres that usually include fries. Chips with sandwiches is definitely much more common for cafes and delis where sandwiches are more of a primary menu option.
My friend from Adelaide always says crisps.
How do you have a conversation if they always say a single word?
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.
