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Hi,

Does anyone have any idea why we say 'Fish & Chip Shop' but not 'Fish & Chips Shop'?

We buy Fish & Chips from a shop, so why do we drop the 's' and just say 'Fish & Chip Shop'?

Thanks,

Chris Curwen

When a noun is used as an adjective, we use the singular form:

book store
pet shop
pencil case
coin purse
letter carrier
...

I'm guessing that's British English you are talking about old chap. On this side of the pond we can indeed say "Fish & Chips Shop." I suppose it's the sibilance that makes it possible. Likewise we would say "The Simpsons Show." In both cases the adjectival part is taken as a single, unbreakable piece, the first one being a menu item the second one being the title of a program.