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.
Let’s confuse them even more:
Hot chips and potato chips.
How about a bag of French Fries potato chips?
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.
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.
