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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.
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Shilly-shally
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
| to spend time idly; loaf. |
adjective
4.
irresolute; undecided; vacillating.
adverb
Origin:
1690–1700; orig. repeated question, shall I? shall I? later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally
1690–1700; orig. repeated question, shall I? shall I? later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally
Related forms
shil·ly-shal·li·er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Link To shilly-shally
Etymonline
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, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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