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.

I have lived in the US for more than 25 years and have NEVER heard or heard reported anyone use the word retard. Ever.

Really? Black Eyed Peas had a massive hit with<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DLX-7AnOx22k&ved=2ahUKEwjvsZ22ruXuAhWOasAKHem1C8MQ3ywwAnoECAgQAg&usg=AOvVaw0ENRfBFYqNFgIirHkVnfpR&cshid=1613168658164" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lets get Retarded which suggests it is fairly widely accepted.

Fish supper is a Scottish term. To distinguish it from your sausage supper/haggis supper/double pattie supper.

I don't think pizza is necessarily always that. Italian to me is pasta and bruschetta and wine
Yeah same to me, that's why I said I wouldn't say "going for a pizza" if I was going to an Italian restaurant. I'd say "I'm going for an Italian".

@RootyT00t I was quoting someone else - their quote didn't show in bold.

Sounds like someone just wants to be offended on someone else's behalf about nothing
PC gone mad....

I predict that human beings will evolve to be dumb, unable to speak, for fear of offending. OP you are being ridiculous. My husband is Indian and says “let’s have an Indian” all the time.

I'd definitely never order pizza when having an Italian. Far too many delicious calorific pasta options. Pizza would be reserved for an actual pizza place. Often a street stall.

Don’t forget the tattie scone 😋

Get a life ffs!!!!! The world is going mad .......

OP the answer is because it's pronunciation in English Language. If the first letter of the next word is a consonant then you use 'a'.

A Thai
A Chinese
A Curry
A Burger

If the next word is a vowel then you use 'an'.

An Indian
An English
An Italian
An American

There is nothing offensive about it, it's just appropriate use of the language.

My siblings are half Indian and stepfather is Indian, we all refer to it as an Indian or an Italian or a chinese. My daughter in law is chinese. I'm half Italian. It has never crossed our minds until now that it could be rascist.
Life is too short to look for insults in every phrase. If one of my family stopped using the term or felt it wasn't appropriate then we would stop saying it but until then I cannot see how it is a problem, after all we'll order a full english in a cafe.

We say "full English" for breakfast. So what's the difference??

Its complete normal where I am to say let's have an indian.

Having a full english today. I'm not offended by that because I'm english.

@MissMarpleDarling

Having a full english today. I'm not offended by that because I'm english.

I am. I’ve had to lock my windows and doors just incase.

Wow. 30 pages on this inane drivel.

OP I get that you put “lesser” in quotation marks but who exactly were you quoting? Who do you think thinks that Indian people are “lesser” than say French people?

Clearly that’s the point you’re trying to shoehorn into a completely unrelated issue about idiomatic terms for takeaways. We don’t have french takeaways here, possibly because French cuisine (other than crepes) doesn’t really lend itself to the takeaway format. If we did, and if it was super common, then it would likely have a shortened/colloquial term just as “chippy” does, which is a British thing.

It’s nothing to do with the hierarchies of nations if that’s what you’re getting at.

@febbfad

Pinkfreesias what's a full Scottish?

It's basically a full English without the pointless and potentially slightly healthy fried tomato. It may also include a couple of fried tattie scones to make sure none of the grease in the pan escapes consumption.

The difference between a Scottish and an English traditional cooked breakfast is in the sausage. In Scotland its either a square sausage or a black pudding. Am I going to be reported now?

You can definately drink a Scotch.

I'm sure many have been to Jamie's Italian.

Is this whole thread about abbreviation phrases and not using the words "restaurant", "meal" or "food" after them? Or is this thread about not being American and using American English and its common phrases?

And a Scottish breakfast will have a potato scone. Love potato scones.

Square sausage is absolutely rank though.

@HideTanner

And a Scottish breakfast will have a potato scone. Love potato scones.

Square sausage is absolutely rank though.

And then of course, there's the famous Glasgow salad.

I'm having one tonight. 😋

Nobody goes out for a German.

That's because German food is offensive.

I find it more offensive when people simply say they're going for a 'curry' as if that's the only type of meal that South Asian restaurants provide! I don't think it's offensive to say we're going for 'an Indian'.

@UntamedWisteria

Wow. 30 pages on this inane drivel.

It’s amazing what people will comment on in lockdown

Wtf? I’m fed up of stupid snowflakes (omg how offensive is that afmgainst white people). I’ve been for an Indian, an Italian, a Chinese, we regularly have a turkish!

I suggest you retarget you energies into something that actually matters!

@Smallgoon

I find it more offensive when people simply say they're going for a 'curry' as if that's the only type of meal that South Asian restaurants provide! I don't think it's offensive to say we're going for 'an Indian'.

Neither is offensive. Terms such as ‘a curry’ are used as shorthand, and there are established conventions for what they mean, because we don’t all sit around making sure to set out our sentences like theses to include all possible terms and implications (well, my DH would argue that I do actually do that, but I digress). Most reasonably educated and knowledgeable people are perfectly aware that there are various types of curries, and many other dishes besides, in various countries and regions and the relevant cuisines.