shilly-shally

American  

[shil-ee-shal-ee] / ˈʃɪl iˌʃæl i /

verb (used without object)

shilly-shallied, shilly-shallying

1. to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.

2. to waste time; dawdle.

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noun

shilly-shallies plural

1. irresolution; indecision; vacillation.

   It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.

adjective

1. irresolute; undecided; vacillating.

adverb

1. irresolutely.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shilly-shallier
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• shilly-shallies
  plural

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

He did not shilly-shally in welcoming the crowd.

From New York Times • May 18, 2010

Whenever the German army fell into a dangerous, disorganized or shilly-shally state, we always looked for the skillful hand of .

From Time Magazine Archive

For George Norris on the stump does not shilly-shally about getting himself elected.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Can I help it if they dally and shilly-shally until our patience is worn out?" asked the young Deputy vehemently.

From Success and How He Won It by Werner, E. T. C. (Edward Theodore Chalmers)

"I have little experience of shilly-shally methods," replied his visitor.

From The Open Question a tale of two temperaments by Robins, Elizabeth