dally

[dal-ee]

verb (used without object)

dallied, dallying 

1. to waste time; loiter; delay.

2. to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.

   Synonyms: trifle, tease, flirt

3. to play mockingly; trifle.

   to dally with danger.

   Synonyms: toy

verb (used with object)

dallied, dallying 

1. to waste (time) (usually followed byaway ).

dally

/ ˈdælɪ /

verb

1. to waste time idly; dawdle

2. (usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toy

   to dally with someone's affections

Other Word Forms

• dallier noun
• dallyingly adverb
• undallying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dally¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dalien from Anglo-French dalier “to chat,” of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of dally¹

C14: from Anglo-French dalier to gossip, of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See loiter.

Example Sentences

I have been dallying and making a gluten-free french toast with some nice seeds, vanilla, cinnamon and berries.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He must surely know by now - but this needless dallying around the edge of the subject is now becoming faintly farcical.

Read more on BBC

Rabbi Matondo then spurned a big chance to double Rangers' lead on the brink of half-time, dallying on the ball and allowing Atkinson to get back and block the shot.

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Arsenal went into half-time with 15 attempts at goal, of which only three were on target, and the second half started with Odegaard dallying on another chance.

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I see the USA dallying with autocracy and anti-democratic ideology — deplorable and chilling.

Read more on Seattle Times