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'm intrigued to know what you would say?

Why is it a fish supper and not just fish and chips

We refer to everything that comes with chips as a supper when its from the chippy.
Can be sausage/fish/haggis/Black pudding. Id never say i was having fish & chips. Again probably a regional thing

@Yellownotblue Re an English breakfast.
Well no, it’s terrible 😄. There are so many better breakfast options out there! Start by putting some fruit on the plate
Tomatoes are a fruit.
Difference between knowledge and wisdom, knowing that a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Brian O' Driscoll.
Op go and find something else that offends you.

Ffs that's almost as bad as putting pineapple of a fucking pizza 🙄

Forstly, like... Firstly, it's bloody delicious 😂 and secondly it's actually it's top 5 most popular pizza toppings.😂

@Dailyhandtowelwash

It’s idiomatic, OP. People in the UK don’t say ‘I’d love some Indian/Chinese/Thai food for dinner’ which is a common construction in North American English. This is our equivalent. In my experience a lot of second language English speakers worldwide now use American idiom (and increasingly in the UK too) so you may have heard it elsewhere too. But it’s not UK English.

The phrase is a lazy contraction in which the end of the sentence is left off, whether that’s ‘takeaway’ or ‘restaurant’. I imagine it’s also used generically for some cuisines more than others because of the number of outlets available.

Thank you, that’s helpful.

It's not in the least offensive!

I think you need to find something to occupy your mind from coming up with this dribble.

OP So, “lesser” (ethnic) is now the American term for ‘popular’?!
Are you sure?

AdelaideK
We say a full English. Is that ok?

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

God I think I hate you.

Do you think a full English is offensive too

Ok, we do put fruit on the plate, it's called a tomato

You are wrong. People refer to having a Chinese or an Italian or indeed an Indian, meaning a meal, where I come from, not just a takeaway. I have also heard of going for a Thai.

@frankie246

I think you need to find something to occupy your mind from coming up with this dribble.

Here’s a little secret: It’s okay to walk away from threads that don’t interest you. I do it all the time.

lurker101
In our house we use phrases such as an Indian takeaway, A Chinese or Italian food but I’m happy to be educated if this is considered incorrect or offensive

I quite agree

@MamaTookMyEyebrows

AdelaideK We say a full English. Is that ok?

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

God I think I hate you.

Hate away! I never have breakfast anyway 😁

I've actually hear similar here in the USA, although it is generally more, "We're ordering an Indian." No one is offended, it is used across all nationalities.

We are, however, more likely to say, "We're doing Chinese tonight," which emphatically does not indicate a sexual liason!

I think you may be a touch hypersensitive, worrying about how your own family may perceive this. Actually, unless you harp on it to them, they almost certainly don't give it a second thought. Natural on your part, though.

Oh this has GOT to be a joke. Seriously what is this world coming to.

@PeggyHill

People say going for an Italian, going for a Chinese, going for a Thai, going for a Brazilian... anything, really.

I don't live in the UK anymore but I did for a long time and I heard people saying these things all the time. I never thought of it as offensive. How else would you describe it? I suppose you could say "we're going for some traditional Indian cuisine" or similar, but it's all a bit long winded.

Going for a Brazilian is something quite different, I think

Nice bait OP

I am Indian and been in UK couple of years so i've heard the phrase "an indian" as in going for an indian takeaway or food

It doesnt offend me as I see it as what they say- just Indian food. It is better than saying "going for a curry" or "curry night" lol but either way i see it as going to have some Indian food!

@Norwayreally

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

Yep, Jesus it must be exhausting finding insults in absolutely everything.

@NuniaBeeswax

Nice bait OP

Well I didn’t mean it like that, but I’m honoured nonetheless.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Ffs that's almost as bad as putting pineapple of a fucking pizza 🙄

Forstly, like... Firstly, it's bloody delicious 😂 and secondly it's actually it's top 5 most popular pizza toppings.😂

I know. I was just putting it out there.

I fucking LOVE pineapple on a pizza.

But most people think I'm weird, so shhhhh!

"Well I didn’t mean it like that, but I’m honoured nonetheless."

You mean you really are this stupid?

If you think that’s offensive I’ll eat my big toe.