"The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in, with a portion of chips... you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them"

This quote by Sid Waddell is an amusing way of describing a situation that is exceptionally tense. The idea of Elvis walking in with a portion of chips is used to stress how quiet and still the atmosphere is. The expression "you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them" is a metaphor for how silent the environment is. It suggests that the stress is so thick that even the noise of the vinegar sizzling on the chips would be heard. This quote is a humorous method of explaining a circumstance that is so tense that even the tiniest of sounds would be heard. It is a reminder that even in the most tense of situations, humor can be found.