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⏳ To waste time 😉 To flirt 🤔 To not commit
to dally

to dally

4 7.7
To waste time by moving or acting slowly
  • verb
  • /ˈdæli/
translation icon : dilatar
  • Hurry up and make a decision; we cannot afford to dally any longer.
  • dilly-dally
  • dally here
  • dally around

There are a lot of questions, so no dilly dallying, let's just dive straight in.

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Examples

Synonyms

to procrastinate
vsto dally
26 6.5

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

is similar but also covers one-off slow choices, not only habit
to dawdle
vsto dally
17 5.0

Move or act slowly and waste time, causing delay

includes these slow actions but also covers decision avoidance
to stall for time
vsto dally
  • Informal
6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

is broader, covering unplanned wasting of time as well as tactics
to mark time
vsto dally
  • Informal
3 6.3

Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things

is broader, including hesitant or slow behaviour that causes delay
to spin your wheels
vsto dally
  • Informal
2 7.9

To waste time and effort without making progress

covers any slow or delaying behaviour, not only unproductive effort
to dillydally
vsto dally
  • Informal
1 8.3

To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do

is the broader idea of wasting time or delaying without choice
to dither over
vsto dally
1 7.9

To hesitate before deciding, often about small things

covers hesitation but also includes general slow behaviour and delays
to have to punt
vsto dally
  • Informal
1 9.2

To delay deciding for now because it is difficult or unclear

is a general delay that can be accidental or habitual too
to dally too long
vsto dally
7.0

To delay longer than you should and risk missing something

focuses generally on delaying or acting slowly rather than timing alone
to hang an arse
vsto dally
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

is similar but also covers slow indecision not just laziness
to sit on a decision
vsto dally
4.2

Delay making a decision by waiting instead of choosing

is broader, covering wasting time and slow action beyond decisions
to shillyshally
vsto dally
  • Informal
9.9

Hesitate instead of deciding or acting quickly

includes indecision but also covers slow action without choice issues
to stand shilly-shally
vsto dally
  • Archaic
9.9

To be unsure and not decide

is similar yet also applies to slow action beyond choice situations
to drag one's feet
vsto dally
  • Informal
5.5

To be slow on purpose because you do not want to do something

includes reluctance but also covers simple slow or wasted actions
to drag one's heels
vsto dally
  • Informal
7.5

To delay doing something because you do not want to do it

is the general wasting of time beyond deliberate reluctance

Antonyms

to decide
∞ 1.0

To make a choice after thinking about the options

to hurry
∞ 1.0

To move or act quickly because there is little time

Phrasal Verbs

to dally too long
7.0

To delay longer than you should and risk missing something

How Delaying

to stall
166 4.3
to dally
4 7.7
to dawdle
17 5.0
to linger
207 3.7
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

dally infinitive
dallied past
dallied past participle
dallying present participle
dallies third person singular

Etymology

Dally comes from an old French verb dallier that meant 'to play' or 'to delay', and it is like the English word dalliance. So, to dally is to waste time or move slowly and risk missing something.