You say potato. I say potato. You say tomato. I say tomato. It can be fun to compare how different people, and sometimes different countries, use the same words. But it can also lead to confusion, and there's a hilarious mishap that happens more often than you would think, when people forget there's a difference between "fish and chips" in the US and UK.
And Brits should take note or risk getting caught out - as several holidaymakers have over the years. Fortunately, it's not a mistake you're likely to make twice, considering many have called the mix-up the stuff of "nightmares."
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But that will come as no consolation to those served American fish and chips, who hoped to enjoy a British classic but ended up with an "abomination".
In the US, "chips" are not potato sides served hot, but what people from the UK call crisps. So, you can imagine how baffled some Americans are to learn we enjoy fish and chips. Take Twitter user @dr_obbs for example.
While enjoying his first trip to Silverstone last month, the American doctor shared what he had learned about Britain during his time here. Number nine on his list read: "Apparently you can eat fish and chips for breakfast?"
Quick to offer an explanation, @KingKodiak_UK replied: "You can eat fish and chips for breakfast, but I wouldn't recommend it. Pizza for breakfast however is great."
He added: "Also, what we call chips is what you would call fries. American chips we call crisps, and they do not go with fish."
But not everyone knows this important truth, as many Brits abroad have found out.
One Reddit user learned this lesson the hard way when they were served fish fingers with a side of crisps after ordering "fish and chips". While the meal in question was served in Montenegro, people were quick to report experiencing the same issue in the US.
One person wrote: "I have ordered 'fish and chips' in Santa Barbara and was served potato chips."
And another said they spotted a similar problem during a business trip to Illinois, when one town's annual fair included a stall claiming to sell "Traditional British Fish and Chips".
"I didn’t have the heart to tell them," the commenter added.
But these are far from the only customers who have been disappointed by their orders due to such mix-ups.
Taking to Twitter last year, a diner was keen to show off their sad-looking portion of "fish and 'chips'", which again featured fish and crisps.
"So, so disturbing!" their friend commented.
And if you thought that was bad enough, you've got another shock coming. It might be the case that some professional chefs have yet to learn the difference, as a worker was recently served crisps and fish in their work's cafeteria.
In a post uploaded to Reddit earlier this week, which has since been removed, another baffled customer shared a complaint.
The caption claimed: ""This is the 'fish and chips' I was served at my work cafeteria in the US. What's the worst fish and chips you've had?"
Once again, the order "got lost in translation", as one commenter pointed out.
While a disbeliever hoped the picture showed "waffle fries", most weren't convinced, and whatever the meal contained, people were horrified.
One person wrote: "That is a crime against humanity." A second thought: "This feels [like] a hate crime."
And someone went so far as to call the meal an "abomination." "I’m going to have a nightmare now," added another.
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