dillydally

[ dil-ee-dal-ee, -dal- ]

See synonyms for dillydally on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),dil·ly·dal·lied, dil·ly·dal·ly·ing.

to waste time, especially by indecision; vacillate; trifle; loiter.

Origin of dillydally

First recorded in 1735–45; gradational reduplication of dally

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dillydally in a sentence

Why dilly-dally with teenage angst when you can bring on the Giant Robots, that was my motto.
The Great Summer Read Is Here | Jane Ciabattari | February 19, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
"I wouldn't dilly-dally long if I were you," said Harkless, and his advice seemed good to the shell-men.
The Gentleman From Indiana | Booth Tarkington
There will be some real shooting here if you dilly-dally any longer.
The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge | Frank Gee Patchin
Some foolish fish always dilly-dally up-stream till the ice shuts them in.
The Story of the Trapper | A. C. Laut
Uncle says he's going express hereafter; he says no more dilly-dally voyages for him.
Seeing France with Uncle John | Anne Warner

He says it was one o' them plans as dilly-dally is death on.
Susan Clegg and Her Neighbors' Affairs | Anne Warner

British Dictionary definitions for dilly-dally

dilly-dally

/ (ˌdɪlɪˈdælɪ) /

verb-lies, -lying or -lied

(intr) informal to loiter or vacillate

Origin of dilly-dally

C17: by reduplication from dally

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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