takesy-backsy

From take back with -sy added to both words.

takesy-backsy (usually uncountable)

1. Alternative form of takesies-backsies (“the act of taking back or going back on a statement, promise, or agreement”).
   • 1979, Gary Cartwright, “When the Old Man Died”, in Blood Will Tell: The Murder Trials of T. Cullen Davis, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, →ISBN, page 114:

     Standing on the balcony outside the master bedroom, looking at the twinkling skyline of downtown Fort Worth, she shook her head sadly and said: “I guess we both did some things to each other. But this . . . this is what we call no-takesy-backsy.”

   • 1995 February 11, Michael McWilliams, “‘Texas Justice’ is guilty of ripping off O.J.’s trial”, in The Detroit News and Free Press, volume 164, number 282, Detroit, Mich., →OCLC, page 4C, column 2:

     When it’s over, you’re less stung by a sense of injustice than haunted by images that hit you like a Ford Bronco: Locklear’s gold necklace spelling out “RICHBITCH,” or her languid Percodan-popping by the fireplace, or the moment when she clutches her massive diamond necklace and hisses at Strauss, “This ain’t no takesy-backsy!”

   • 2004 May 1, Vic Ziegel, “Even at 20-1, grab Borrego by the horns”, in Daily News, New York, N.Y., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 48:

     Of course, the people who insist on paying attention to the exotic little numbers in the Daily Racing Form probably need more of a reason. And, sure, I’ve got plenty. But I have even more faith in my Last-Chance-No-Takesy-Backsy-System (Advil is the official sponsor).

   • 2008 January 2, Raquel Eldridge, Shawnte’ Henderson, “Ramona”, in A Lover’s Deceit: A Novel, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 152:

     “How did this all come about?” I asked. “We argued, we yelled, and we shouted. And since she wants to be Miss Takesy Backsy, I asked for my fucking keys back, too.”

   • 2010 December 5, CatNipped, “I'm in need of...”, in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes‎^[1] (Usenet), archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     I was one of those rare birds who, if I heard a friend or relative talking about "needing" children to "complete" their lives, would offer my two for one week, free of charge, no takesy-backsy. […] *NOT* everyone is cut out to be a mother and, as in my offer above, there's no takesy-backsy.

   • 2021, Kristin Leal, “Introduction”, in MetaAnatomy: A Modern Yogi’s Practical Guide to the Physical and Energetic Anatomy of Your Amazing Body, Louisville, Colo.: Sounds True, →ISBN:

     this book is not really an anatomy book.¹

     1. No takesy-backsy.

   • 2022 March 9, Adrienne Tam, “Mamamia recaps Married At First Sight: Olivia apologises... and then whips out a takesy backsy.”, in Mamamia‎^[2], archived from the original on 9 March 2022
   • 2024 August 2, Dan Carson, “Kyle Rittenhouse turns on Trump, takes it back, in the span of 12 hours”, in Chron‎^[3], Houston, Tex., archived from the original on 3 August 2024:

     Unfortunately for Rittenhouse, his firm, no-takesy-backsy stance rankled some of his fellow right-wing influencers, among them conservative "humorist" and one-time Texas gubernatorial candidate Chad Prather, who announced Friday morning he would be dropping out of an upcoming event with Texas Guns Rights, a pro-gun nonprofit in which Rittenhouse serves as outreach director.

   • 2025 July 28, Mike Tanier, “Oh Jerrah, Where Art Thou?”, in Too Deep Zone‎^[4], via Substack:

     Should we fault the Raiders for trying to play takesy-backsy with their guarantees if Wilkins indeed malingered?

   • 2025 November 26, Emily, “The Complete Guide to Permanently Removing Your Business Page from Facebook”, in Smart.DHgate‎^[5], Beijing, archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     After 14 days of no action, your page will vanish forever — all content, followers, and interactions gone. No takesy-backsy here!

takesy-backsy (comparative more takesy-backsy, superlative most takesy-backsy)

1. (childish, rare) Of or prone to the act of taking back or going back on a statement, promise, or agreement.
   • 2010 June 8, Kristina Dorsey, “Off the air, on the road, Conan has his moments”, in The Day, volume 129, number 342, New London, Conn., →ISSN, →OCLC, page D1, columns 1–2:

     Let’s face it, O’Brien was rooked — rooked! — when NBC did the takesy-backsy thing with “The Tonight Show,” and he didn’t stint on joking about that debacle Sunday.

   • 2020 December 1, Baxter, “Criminal tRump”, in or.politics‎^[6] (Usenet), archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     In retrospect, it’s obvious that neither Flynn’s takesy-backsy declaration, nor Barr’s pulling out the rug beneath U.S. attorneys was ever intended to work.

   • 2021, Hala Alyan, “Park Slope Wives”, in The Arsonists’ City: A Novel, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, part I, page 20:

     The best child. Her mother’s line, for years. After she hangs up, Ava feels dizzy with instantaneous regret and exhiliration. Her mother isn’t the takesy-backsy type, as Rayan would say. A yes, in Mazna’s world, is a yes.

   • 2022 March 5, The Last Doctor, “Happy Birthday to Doctor Who”, in rec.arts.drwho‎^[7] (Usenet), archived from the original on 2 December 2025:

     Because it was 58 last November. I mistyped and UseNet^[sic] has no edit or takesy-backsy functionality, no matter how often Dave wishes it did.