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shilly-shally

 - 3 dictionary results

shil⋅ly-shal⋅ly

  [shil-ee-shal-ee] verb, -lied, -ly⋅ing, noun, plural -shal⋅lies, adjective, adverb
Use shilly-shally in a Sentence
–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

Related forms:
shil⋅ly-shal⋅li⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To shilly-shally
shil·ly-shal·ly   (shĭl'ē-shāl'ē)   
intr.v.   shil·ly-shal·lied (-lēd), shil·ly-shal·ly·ing, shil·ly-shal·lies (-lēz)

  1. To procrastinate.

  2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.

  3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.

adj.  Hesitant; vacillating.
n.   pl. shil·ly-shal·lies
Procrastination; hesitation.
adv.  In a hesitant manner; irresolutely.

[Reduplication of the question shall I?]
shil'ly-shal'li·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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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