“Chips” in the UK are long, narrow strips of fried potatoes sold cheaply in many take-out restaurants. The phrase “cheap as chips” means something is a good deal. Idioms are figurative phrases that can be confusing for non-native speakers and require some background knowledge to understand. “Cheap as chips” is specific to UK English and doesn’t literally mean the item costs the same as chips.
In the United Kingdom (UK), the term “chips” is used for potatoes that have been cut into long, narrow strips and fried. These fries are quite common and are sold for a very low price in many take-out restaurants. The ready availability of this food at low prices has given rise to the idiom “cheap as chips,” a phrase indicating that the item being referred to is a great deal and cheaply priced.
Idioms are commonly used in the English language. They consist of groups of words used figuratively, rather than literally. People often use idioms without even thinking about it. Phrases such as “I heard it through the vine,” “Every dog has its day,” “Like two peas in a pod,” and “Bite the bullet” add color to the language, but can be confusing to a non-native speaker, or to anyone who doesn’t have never heard the particular idiom before.
To be able to understand an idiom usually requires someone to understand the user’s frame of reference. A person doesn’t necessarily need to understand the entire background of an idiom to be able to use it correctly, but if the idiom is to make sense, some background is helpful. Knowing that chips are common and cheap in the UK helps to understand the phrase ‘cheap as chips’.
Some idioms are specific to a particular style of English. In the case of the phrase “cheap as chips,” the term chip means something different in British English than it does in American English. In the United States, potatoes cut into long, square strips are called “French fries,” instead of potato chips. French fries are not particularly expensive, but they are not always synonymous with low cost. In this case, this particular idiom might be difficult for someone who has never been exposed to UK English to decipher.
When the term “cheap as chips” is used, it doesn’t literally mean that the item in question will cost the same as an order of take-out chips, just that the item is reasonably priced and can be considered a good deal. “Cheap” can refer to a car, a dress, a pair of shoes, a week-long vacation, or anything else that you got on the cheap.
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