What does the expression INDIAN GIVER mean & what is its historical background?

Answer 1

Indian giver is an American English expression used for any individual who gives something and then either takes it back or wants to take it back.

Indian giver was termed when Native Americans would lend items to the settlers, in other words, let them borrow necessities. The settlers thought that this was a gift from the Native Americans; hence, they were shocked when the Native Americans asked for their items back.

Answer 2

Indian Giver
There are two popular etymologies for this term for a person who gives a gift only to later demand its return. The first is that it is based on an unfair stereotype of Native Americans, that they don't keep their word. In the other popular explanation, the term doesn't cast aspersions on Native Americans, instead it echoes the broken promises the whites made to the Indians. Neither is accurate, although the first is closer to the truth.

Instead the term comes from different commercial practices. To the Native Americans, who had no concept of money or currency, gifts were a form of trade goods, of exchange. One didn't give a gift without expecting one of equivalent value in return. If one could not offer an equivalent return gift, the original gift would be refused or returned. To the Europeans, who with their monetary-based trade practices, this seemed low and insulting, gifts were not for trade but were to be freely given.

The noun Indian gift dates to 1765. Indian giver follows about a century later in 1865. Originally, these reflected simply the expectation of a return gift. By the 1890s, the sense had shifted to mean one who demands a gift back.


***wow*** great answer Beaker B!. LOL

Answer 3

Indian Giver:

There are two popular etymologies for this term for a person who gives a gift only to later demand its return. The first is that it is based on an unfair stereotype of Native Americans, that they don't keep their word. In the other popular explanation, the term doesn't cast aspersions on Native Americans, instead it echoes the broken promises the whites made to the Indians. Neither is accurate, although the first is closer to the truth.

Instead the term comes from different commercial practices. To the Native Americans, who had no concept of money or currency, gifts were a form of trade goods, of exchange. One didn't give a gift without expecting one of equivalent value in return. If one could not offer an equivalent return gift, the original gift would be refused or returned. To the Europeans, who with their monetary-based trade practices, this seemed low and insulting, gifts were not for trade but were to be freely given.

The noun Indian gift dates to 1765. Indian giver follows about a century later in 1865. Originally, these reflected simply the expectation of a return gift. By the 1890s, the sense had shifted to mean one who demands a gift back.


hehe must have just beat you by a second :oP

Answer 4

I don't know the historical background, but the expression
INDIAN GIVER means this...say you give a friend something one day and the next day (for whatever reason) he wants it back.

Answer 5

I think it had to do with the custom of early Native Americans of sharing what they had with friends and strangers alike. If they had something someone needed they did not hesitate to give it. And they did not hesitate to take back things as they needed them. The settlers saw this as a form of stealing.
There is however a very good book of facts like this called "Indian Givers" by Weatherford. It demonstrates how the Europeans would eventually "pay" for what they took from the New World.

Answer 6

I know what the expression means but not its historical background. For example: Say I give my mom a beautiful crystal punch bowl as a gift but months later decide to have a party and ask to have it for the party. A better example would be something I would want to take back and keep after I already gave it to her. I'm guessing it comes from native american indians somehow.

Answer 7

An Indian Giver is a person who gives away things but wants it back.

Answer 8

In History class I was taught that an Indian Giver was the "White Man" who gave the American Indians some land (after taking it from them in battles) and then took it away from them.

Answer 9

Indian Giver means you give someone something and then take it back. In the west, the indians would trade for something with their trinkets then when the party would leave the indians would follow and ambush them and take all the stuff back. Therefore getting all they bargained for and with.

Answer 10

Back when the America still belonged to the Indians,deals were made that the Indians did not understand what they were doing.They were tricked,and didn't like it very much so they would attempt to un-do the deal and take back what was their's.Hence the term,Indian Giver.Means after you make a deal you try to change it.PEACE!!