# Is there a short non-racist substitute for "Indian giver"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 5, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078 "2013-09-05T15:22:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/81 "2015-05-15T15:34:30Z")

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Take-backer is awkward, I prefer backtaker.

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**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/82 "2015-05-15T15:55:43Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> I assume that it refers to the fact that Jay Leno turned over his role as host of the _Tonight Show_ to Conan O’Brian in 2009, then controversially returned as host after only a few months when Conan’s ratings were disappointing.

Correct. [Here’s a good article about it.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno#Second_incarnation)

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**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/83 "2015-05-15T16:47:15Z")

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> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> Take-backer is awkward, I prefer backtaker.

Sounds bake-tackwards.

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**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/84 "2015-05-15T17:25:21Z")

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> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Bank giver, or banker’s gift. Something I just made up.
> 
> Some contracts have a “claw-back” feature allowing a deal to be undone.

I vote for this:

“I don’t want to be a banker, but i need my mower back.” It has a neat double meaning (substitute ‘w’ for ‘b’); it has a good dig at the hated bankers and I think most people would probably guess the meaning without difficulty.

I at least will start using it asap.

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**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/85 "2015-05-15T21:11:06Z")

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At least until that minority group (bankers) has their weasel lawyers send you a ‘cease and desist’ letter.

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**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-short-non-racist-substitute-for-indian-giver/668078/86 "2015-05-15T21:29:58Z")

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I allways thought Indian Giver meant to give something then take it back (broken treaties)

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