Dictionary

takesy-backsy en · ADJ

Etymology

From take back with -sy added to both words.

Meanings

1. (childish, rare) Of or prone to the act of taking back or going back on a statement, promise, or agreement.
   • 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. 2020 December 1, Baxter, “Criminal tRump”, in or.politics (Usenet), archived from the original on 02 Dec 2025:
   • 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. 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:
   • 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. 2021, Hala Alyan, “Park Slope Wives”, in The Arsonists’ City: A Novel, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, →ISBN, part I, page 20:
   • 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. 2022 March 5, The Last Doctor, “Happy Birthday to Doctor Who”, in rec.arts.drwho (Usenet), archived from the original on 02 Dec 2025:

Forms

takesy-backsy en · NOUN

Etymology

From take back with -sy added to both words.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, uncountable, usually) Alternative form of takesies-backsies (“the act of taking back or going back on a statement, promise, or agreement”).
   alt of takesies-backsies
   • Should we fault the Raiders for trying to play takesy-backsy with their guarantees if Wilkins indeed malingered? 2025 July 28, Mike Tanier, “Oh Jerrah, Where Art Thou?”, in Too Deep Zone, via Substack:
   • “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.” 2008 January 2, Raquel Eldridge, Shawnte’ Henderson, “Ramona”, in A Lover’s Deceit: A Novel, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 152:
   • After 14 days of no action, your page will vanish forever — all content, followers, and interactions gone. No takesy-backsy here! 2025 November 26, Emily, “The Complete Guide to Permanently Removing Your Business Page from Facebook”, in Smart.DHgate, Beijing, archived from the original on 02 Dec 2025:
   • 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. 2024 August 2, Dan Carson, “Kyle Rittenhouse turns on Trump, takes it back, in the span of 12 hours”, in Chron, Houston, Tex., archived from the original on 03 Aug 2024:
   • 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.” 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:
   • 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). 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:
   • 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!” 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:
   • this book is not really an anatomy book.¹ 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:
   • 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. 2010 December 5, CatNipped, “I'm in need of...”, in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes (Usenet), archived from the original on 02 Dec 2025:

Synonyms

backsie