to shilly-shally
1
9.9
- verb
- /ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/
- Informal
:
vacilar
- Why don't you stop shilly-shallying and come on?
- enough shilly-shallying
Examples
-
I have no patience with people that shilly-shally about these things.
-
If you keep shilly-shallying, you might miss the opportunity.
-
I'll have no more shilly-shallying about the matter.
Fiction book (1994) -
We need an opposition with the guts to stand up and not shilly-shally around.
Blog text (15) -
Don't shilly-shally, Louis.
-
Stop shilly-shallying and make a decision already.
-
I can't stand it when you shilly-shally instead of just saying what you want.
Synonyms
318
2.5
To pause before saying or doing something because you feel unsure
52
5.7
To show doubt when making a decision
15
8.3
To delay giving a clear answer or making a choice
8
7.7
To act nervously and be unable to decide quickly
6
8.6
To avoid making a clear decision or giving a direct answer
4
7.7
To waste time by moving or acting slowly
3
6.6
To feel unsure about making a decision or taking action
3
9.0
To keep changing your mind and not give a clear answer
1
7.9
To hesitate before deciding, often about small things
1
8.3
To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do
1
9.2
To delay deciding for now because it is difficult or unclear
Hesitate instead of deciding or acting quickly
To be unsure and not decide
How Hesitant
26
6.5
8
8.1
8
7.7
- Informal
1
9.9
318
2.5
346
1.0
Surface Forms
Etymology
Shilly-shally sounds like someone saying 'shall I, shall I?' over and over. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine a person asking 'shall I?' and not choosing, which is why shilly-shally means to show 'hesitation' and to delay making a decision.