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Glite Dictionary
to dillydally

to dillydally

1 8.3
To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do
  • verb
  • /ˈdɪliˌdæli/
  • Informal
translation icon : dilatar

Examples

  • Stop dillydallying, the cops is coming.

    The Beach Bum (2019)

  • Stop dillydallying and decide where you want to go for dinner.

  • If you keep dillydallying, we will miss the bus.

  • I wish you would stop dillydallying and start your homework already.

Synonyms

to stall
vsto dillydally
166 4.3

To delay doing something on purpose to get more time

is delay that comes from hesitation or indecision rather than purposeful postponing
to procrastinate
vsto dillydally
26 6.5

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

is delay in the moment driven by hesitation rather than habitual postponement
to dawdle
vsto dillydally
17 5.0

Move or act slowly and waste time, causing delay

is delay from indecision rather than mere slow movement
to stall for time
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

is delay that comes from hesitation, not from strategic time gaining
to dilly-dally
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
5 7.9

To waste time by delaying when you should act

is the same meaning but written without a hyphen in this form
to dally
vsto dillydally
4 7.7

To waste time by moving or acting slowly

is delay caused by hesitation or indecision rather than deliberate tactics
to play for time
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
4 5.0

To delay on purpose to get more time before deciding or acting

is delay due to hesitance or indecision rather than tactical postponement
to take one's sweet time
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
3 7.5

Do something slowly on purpose and without hurry

is delay from indecision rather than leisurely, unbothered slowness
to mark time
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
3 6.3

Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things

is delay from hesitance to act rather than passive waiting without progress
to temporize
vsto dillydally
  • Formal
2 9.3

To delay making a decision to gain time or avoid conflict

is delay from simple hesitation rather than calculated avoidance of commitment
to spin your wheels
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
2 7.9

To waste time and effort without making progress

is delaying by indecision rather than trying and failing to advance
to shillyshally
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
9.9

Hesitate instead of deciding or acting quickly

is less extreme in indecision and can simply be slow
to dally too long
vsto dillydally
7.0

To delay longer than you should and risk missing something

is delay from hesitation but not always excessively long
to drag one's feet
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
5.5

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

is delay due to hesitation or indecision rather than deliberate reluctance
to drag one's heels
vsto dillydally
  • Informal
7.5

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

is more about hesitation and indecision than deliberate refusal
to hang an arse
vsto dillydally
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

is delay from hesitation or indecision rather than mere laziness

Antonyms

to proceed
763 3.0

Begin or continue an action after a pause, often as planned

How Slow

to dillydally
  • Informal
1 8.3
to dawdle
17 5.0
to linger
207 3.7
to hesitate
318 2.5

Surface Forms

dillydally infinitive
dillydallied past
dillydallied past participle
dillydallying present participle
dillydallies third person singular

Morphology

dillydally = dally (transparent) = dilly + dally

Formed by reduplication around the verb 'dally' to indicate prolonged or repeated delay, so a learner who knows 'dally' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word dillydally comes from the playful joining of dilly and dally, two small words that were used to mean 'delay' or 'move slowly'. So, to dillydally is to waste time by being slow or unsure.