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.

Going for an Indian, a Chinese or an Italian - all common phrases over here and nothing disrespectful as far as I can tell.

You have lived in the UK and never heard people talking about an Italian, a Mexican/Chinese/Vietnamese/Nepalese/Thai/Greek/region-of-chocie etc etc?

Nepalese food referred to as an Indian takeaway would be inaccurate and offensive.

You can't really offend food though, can you?

@BloggersBlog

'We are having Thai tonight' - I really dont think anyone hearing me say that will think I am off to track down and eat an actual person from Thailand.

But you don’t say “we’re having A Thai”?

This really looks like someone desperately looking to be offended about something.

@Yellownotblue

I’m specifically referring to abbreviating it to ‘an Indian’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they were going for ‘an Italian’. Maybe I’m wrong or it’s a regional thing?

"I fancy going out for an Italian" is surely a common phrase. Before lockdown anyway, no more "going out" now!

No, I've never heard anyone going out for "a French" but to be honest, I haven't ever seen a French takeaway.

Definitely the thing in my area and circle of family & friends to say ' 'Indian', 'Italian', or 'Chinese'. Must admit never heard anyone say going for a 'french', but that maybe because 'french' has contraceptive connotations.............

I wouldn't say "an Italian" or "a Mexican".

I might say "shall we have Italian", or "let's have Mexican".

To be, it's true the only ones I put "a" or "an" before are Indian and Chinese. But I'm not sure it matters!

@Yellownotblue well which region are you in?

Because it’s short for ‘an Indian meal’. Food that is of Indian origin

Is your husband offended by this or have you decided to be offended on his behalf? I mean, I’d say I was going out for an Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Italian. Maybe not French, Greek or American. Not sure why other than it doesn’t roll off the tongue. As someone who is half Greek I wouldn’t be offended in the slightest if they said they were going for a Greek meaning Greek food.

Omg don't be so stupid

Yes, people would say going for an Italian too, having a Chinese etc

I think you've misinterpreted this. It's just short for an Indian meal, said all over Britain, not a regional thing.

Oh Ffs. Seriously? It’s what British people say in reference to one of their favourite foods.

But if their sign writing says 'Indian restaurant' and you say you're popping to 'the indian' or to pick up from 'the indian' -, it is just a shortening or 'Indian restaurant' which they've called themselves.

Same as popping to 'the chippie' or ' the offie'

How can this be dismissive?

If we're getting more nuanced and having an argument as to whether what is described as 'indian' food in the UK is actually from elsewhere and that this is lazy and stereotyping etc then that's a completely different argument and definitely not helped by the restaurants themselves in that case.

I’ve heard lots of people say they are having an Indian, a Chinese, an English/full English, an Italian, a Thai, a McDonald’s etc but you’re right, I’ve not heard of people going for a French. Maybe that’s because we have very few typical French takeaways or restaurants in comparison. 🤷🏻‍♀️

But you don’t say “we’re having A Thai”?

We do.

It's just knocking off the word 'meal'.

@Norwayreally

Definitely heard people say they’re going for a Chinese or an Italian, it’s normal where I’m from.

True

Because offence is taken, not given, and it says everything about the intent, personality and mindset of the person who chooses to take offence, and nothing about the person who uses the phrase.

Maybe it’s a class or regional thing. I literally have never heard anyone say ‘going for an Italian’. It’s just “lesser” (ethnic) cuisines that are referred to that way.

I just posted out of curiosity. No need to get all agitated. I’ve read all the answers and taking it all on board. I’m interested in linguistics.

@Yellownotblue

I’m specifically referring to abbreviating it to ‘an Indian’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say they were going for ‘an Italian’. Maybe I’m wrong or it’s a regional thing?

We understand you were specifically asking about the use of "an Indian". People were simply pointing out that the phrase is used in the same way for other cuisines (ie) not limited to "Ann Indian".

Also the poster's reference to whether referring to "a full english" probably wasn't referencing whether the food was right, more whether you were also offended by the way it was on phrased.

@VanGoghsDog no I don’t think you can offend food 😂 I was thinking more the restaurant owners. Sometimes people incorrectly class food from neighbouring countries as the same cuisine which is offensive to many people

@FredaFlintstone

But you don’t say “we’re having A Thai”?

We do.

It's just knocking off the word 'meal'.

Why the F not?

We definitely say we’re going for an Italian in this house. Also say ‘we fancy a Chinese/Jamaican/Thai’

You'd never say your going to your friend's for an Indian, just like you'd never say the same for an Italian. Your examples are flawed.

Not sure why we don't say we're going out for a French... c'est la vie

Is your husband from India, you say he has Asian ancestry, Asia is a big place and as already stated there are a lot of different cuisine types from different countries within Asia.