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shilly shally

 - 2 dictionary results

shil⋅ly-shal⋅ly

[shil-ee-shal-ee] verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing, noun, plural -shal⋅lies, adjective, adverb
–verb (used without object)
1. to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.
2. to waste time; dawdle.
–noun
3. irresolution; indecision; vacillation: It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.
–adjective
4. irresolute; undecided; vacillating.
–adverb
5. irresolutely.

Origin:
1690–1700; orig. repeated question, shall I? shall I? later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally


shil⋅ly-shal⋅li⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

shilly-shally 
"vacillate," 1703, earlier shill I, shall I (1700), fanciful reduplication of shall I? (cf. wishy-washy, dilly-dally, etc.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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