shilly-shally

[ shil-ee-shal-ee ]

/ ˈʃɪl iˌʃæl i /

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See synonyms for shilly-shally on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), shil·ly-shal·lied, shil·ly-shal·ly·ing.

to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.

to waste time; dawdle.

noun, plural shil·ly-shal·lies.

irresolution; indecision; vacillation: It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.

adjective

irresolute; undecided; vacillating.

adverb

irresolutely.

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Origin of shilly-shally

First recorded in 1690–1700; originally repeated question, shall I? shall I?; later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally

OTHER WORDS FROM shilly-shally

shil·ly-shal·li·er, noun

Words nearby shilly-shally

shillelagh, shilling, shilling mark, Shillong, Shilluk, shilly-shally, Shiloh, shilpit, shily, shim, Shimazaki

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use shilly-shally in a sentence

You that haven't a bit or a sup but what comes from him, and you to stand shilly-shallying!
An Old Man's Love|Anthony Trollope
There would be none of this shilly-shallying back-and-forth work then!
Joan of the Sword Hand|S(amuel) R(utherford) Crockett
We will make no further pretence, and lest I lose you by further shilly-shallying, we will start upon our journey at once.
Romance of Roman Villas|Elizabeth W. (Elizbeth Williams) Champney
However, one thing was certain: there must be no shilly-shallying.
Tales of Northumbria|Howard Pease

Strange that people will have so much faith in shilly-shally!
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 7 (of 20)|Charles Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for shilly-shally

shillyshally

/ (ˈʃɪlɪˌʃælɪ) informal /

verb -lies, -lying or -lied

(intr) to be indecisive, esp over unimportant matters; hesitate

adverb

in an indecisive manner

adjective

indecisive or hesitant

noun plural -lies

indecision or hesitation; vacillation

Derived forms of shillyshally

shillyshallier, noun

Word Origin for shillyshally

C18: from shill I shall I, by reduplication of shall I

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