English Idiom – Cheap as chips or As cheap as chips.
Meaning – Very inexpensive. This expression can be used to refer to something that is reduced in price, something that is cheaper than usual, or something that costs less money than you expected.
This is a British English idiom.
In British English chips are long, rectangular pieces of fried potato. These are known as fries or french fries in America. In the UK chips are very common and sometimes very cheap – hence this expression. Read more about the UK’s favourite food – British Culture – Fish and Chips.
A slang word for potatoes in the UK is spuds!

chips or crisps?
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- When you are talking about a bargain you found.
- A holiday to somewhere special was cheaper than you thought it would be.
- When the bill comes for a meal and it’s surprisingly inexpensive.
Example:
- “We couldn’t believe it. We ordered so much food and drink but the final bill was as cheap as chips!”
In The News:
‘Cheap As Chips’: Chris Sutton ‘Surprised’ At What Arsenal Are About To Do
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
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