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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.
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"
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!
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.
Thinly cut chips. Fat chips. Crisps.
I think they're describing how fries and chips as fries are different. Thick cut (or steak cut) fries are chips, shoestring fries are fries, and US chips/UK crisps are crisps if they serve all 3.
I thought I was understanding until this part of the thread and now I feel like you guys have to do a lot of clarification. 😂
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.