How is the expression ‘an Indian’ not offensive?

[Yellownotblue]

As in, an Indian take away or delivery meal.

I find it quite odd to hear one specific type of cuisine referred to like this. Would you say “ we’re going for a French tonight” or “he invited me to his place for an Italian”? Somehow it seems dismissive and disrespectful.

For full disclosure, I’m not Indian but my husband is of Asian ancestry and our children have dual heritage. I’m British (first generation migrant). I was born and brought up in North America and can’t remember the expression ‘an Indian’ ever being used as short for Indian food before I moved to Britain.

Talk about looking for offence where there is none!

@Hammonds

I think this should be in pendants corner actually because OP is more annoyed at the use of ‘a/an’

Grammar pendants that way ——>

It's pedants, not pendants.

I'm still blown away by the OPs dismissal of an English breakfast because it doesn't contain fruit. Since when was a grilled tomato, an integral part of a full English, not a fruit? It also includes mushrooms.

@PinkyParrot

People are so defensive on these threads that you can't help thinking they are desperately trying to prove something.

Maybe I should finish what I was saying here - people jump on the OP desperate to prove her wrong as they think someone might be daring to suggest they could be a teensy bit racist.
I wouldn't say it is racist but it could be, imv, a bit disrespectful - an Indian is a person from India, not just a takeaway.

Isn’t ‘an Indian’ meaning a person simply short for ‘an Indian person’?

So still an adjective, and a shortening to an adjective, rather than a noun?

Though ‘a Brit’ is a noun, we don’t say ‘a British’ .

@Doris86

It’s a shame some people seem to make it their mission in life to be offended by the tiniest and most innocent things.

I do wonder if it’s attention seeking, wanting their 5 minutes of fame.

Offensive? Oh purlease. FFS.
I say all of these. It's normal.

This is such a non issue. Looking for something that's just not there.

I do say going for an Italian or Chinese or Mexican... Its pretty normal

I'm Italian . Going for an Italian is ok by me !
If someone says they are picking up an Italian tonight I often reply Lucky you

@Yellownotblue "It’s just “lesser” (ethnic) cuisines that are referred to that way."
You come on here trying to make out that people are racist because they use an abbreviation, and yet you describe certain cuisines as "lesser"??
Who's being racist, op??

What a silly thread.

People from different countries/continents/cultures use different language and phraseology - who knew?

If you are really interested in linguitics OP I can recommend several interesting books on the matter and indeed have several I could sell to you cheaply, having taught the subject a little

And now I am off to stuff down a full English, puff on a fag and neck a pint.

Onto other pointless words... in this country, "Asian" only means "Indian". In the US, "Asian" can mean Chinese. I've given up trying to reclaim the word. It's never going to work in the UK.

That's not the case where I live in the U.K.

Oops, 'linguistics' I meant to say.

I wouldn't "go for an Italian" I'd go for "Pizza" or "Domino's" - although mostly I'd get a supermarket pizza in preference to takeaway pizza because I'm tight.

Would go for "an Indian", "a Chinese" or "a Thai".

I think the difference is that you'd buy 1 thing from the "Italian"/Pizza place but a variety from the others.

Though ‘a Brit’ is a noun, we don’t say ‘a British’ .

'A Brit' is short for 'a Briton' (ie a British person) not 'a British'

"Isn’t ‘an Indian’ meaning a person simply short for ‘an Indian person’?"

I think in this case "an Indian" is short for "an Indian takeaway" or "an Indian meal".

I’m Caribbean. I say, ‘I’m having a Caribbean’ or Jerk, if I’m ordering from particular restaurants. I also say, ‘grabbing an Italian’ or ‘having a Chinese’.

It’s nonsense like this that makes people unreceptive to the real grievances we have. I find it really counter productive.

Scottish people getting called Scots or jocks is one of my pet hates. Even newsreaders are at it ;‘the Scots’ etc.. I think it sounds really off hand when people say ‘the Scots!’

Well no, it’s terrible. There are so many better breakfast options out there! Start by putting some fruit on the plate...

That's what the tomato is about....

I think you suffer from Woke Fragility, too much privilege, and lack of reality check and critical thinking skills to find this offensive.

It’s nonsense like this that makes people unreceptive to the real grievances we have. I find it really counter productive.

^^This

I'd usually say "Shall we go for a curry", but I definitely say "Lets go for a Chinese" or "a Mexican"

It has nothing to do with racism, and more to do with the fact that these are culture specific restaurants. Other restaurants are not so culture specific so I would say "lets got to ..name of restaurant ' for them.

I also say "i fancy tapas', not 'I fancy a Spanish' because the two are not exclusive to each other.

Quite normal to say this were we live. As is having a Chinese, Mexican, Italian, Nando, full English. Surely it is people saying "we are having an Indian" rather than "we are eating Indian food tonight" I don't think any offence is meant bu it.

I understand what you're saying @Yellownotblue , can't say I'm offended by it but I've always thought it sounds strange (also not from/in UK)
Here we would say "we're having Indian for dinner" or "we're having Chinese tonight" not adding the A/at in front, it does sound odd.

@Esspee

Let’s have an Italian tonight means we are going to eat out at the local Italian restaurant. Similarly with Chinese and Indian. No idea why people are stating it only refers to takeaway.

In this instance, wouldn't you just say "let's have Italian tonight" no an?