shilly-shally

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to hesitate, waver, or waste time because one is unable or unwilling to make a decision

   The committee continued to shilly-shally until the funding deadline had passed.

2. 2
   adj

   indecisive, wavering, or evasive

   His shilly-shally response left both sides unsure of his position.

3. 3
   noun

   indecision or delay caused by repeated hesitation

   After weeks of shilly-shally, the board finally approved the merger.

A reduplicated alteration of the question "Shall I?", imitating someone who repeatedly asks whether to act instead of deciding. An older form was shill-I-shall-I. The wavering sound pattern gave rise to the verb and then to adjective and noun uses.

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