Indian giving

English

Etymology

From Meriwether Lewis' and William Clarke's misunderstanding of how Native Americans traded: a tribe that traded beads for a dog might later trade the dog back to its original owner, expecting something (such as the beads) in return, and taking it if it was not offered.^[1]

Noun

Indian giving (uncountable)

(informal, derogatory, offensive) The act of demanding the return of an gifted item or taking back something that was previously given, or expecting something in return.

Related terms

References

^ The History Behind The Phrase 'Don't Be An Indian Giver' (NPR)

[1] The History Behind The Phrase 'Don't Be An Indian Giver' (NPR)

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