dilly-dally

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈdɪl.iˌdæl.i/ UK /ˈdɪl.iˌdæl.i/ See IPA manual

Freq #56862

Meanings

1

verb
informal: to waste time through indecision, delay, or aimless activity

We cannot dilly-dally if we want to catch the last train.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · informal: to waste time... dawdle procrastinate shilly-shally

Opposites

hurryact promptly

Word family

Forms dilly-dallying

Derived forms dilly-dallying

Related forms dally delay indecision

Simplified etymology

Dilly-dally arose in the early 17th century as a rhyming formation based on dally. Dally itself had entered English in the Middle Ages from a French word meaning “to chat.”

Etymology

A playful reduplication of dally, 'to waste time or linger.' The alternating vowels give the verb an imitative, dismissive rhythm similar to shilly-shally.

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

External links

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