lallygag

American  

[lah-lee-gag, lal-ee-] / ˈlɑ liˌgæg, ˈlæl i- /

verb (used without object)

Informal.

lallygagged, lallygagging

1. lollygag.

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lallygag British  

/ ˈlælɪˌɡæɡ /

verb

1. (intr) to loiter aimlessly

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Usage

What does lallygag mean? To lallygag is to dilly-dally, dawdle, loaf around, or goof off. If you’re lallygagging, you’re wasting time by moving slowly or doing something less important than what you should be (or doing nothing at all). Lallygag is synonymous with the very similar spelled lollygag, which is much more commonly used. Both are very informal and are primarily used in the United States. Example: Coach yelled at Spencer for lallygagging at practice.

Etymology

Origin of lallygag

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The dessert was forgotten, although it was Mrs. MacCall’s famous “whangdoodle pudding and lallygag sauce.”

From The Corner House Girls Snowbound by Hill, Grace Brooks

Mrs. MacCall was famous for her "whangdoodle pudding and lallygag sauce"—a title she had given once to cottage pudding and its accompanying dressing to satisfy little folks' teasing questions as to "what is that?"

From The Corner House Girls Growing Up What Happened First, What Came Next. And How It Ended by Hill, Grace Brooks