dally

[ dal-ee ]

verb (used without object)

, dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.

1. to waste time; loiter; delay.
2. to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.

   Synonyms: trifle, tease, flirt

3. to play mockingly; trifle:

   to dally with danger.

   Synonyms: toy

verb (used with object)

, dal·lied, dal·ly·ing.

1. to waste (time) (usually followed by away ).

dally

/ ˈdælɪ /

verb

1. to waste time idly; dawdle
2. usually foll by with to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toy

   to dally with someone's affections

Derived Forms

• ˈdallier, noun

Other Words From

• dalli·er noun
• dally·ing·ly adverb
• un·dally·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dally¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English dalien from Anglo-French dalier “to chat,” of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of dally¹

C14: from Anglo-French dalier to gossip, of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See loiter.

Example Sentences

He must surely know by now - but this needless dallying around the edge of the subject is now becoming faintly farcical.

From BBC

Having no wish to dally, he continued steadily northward.

From Literature

Rabbi Matondo then spurned a big chance to double Rangers' lead on the brink of half-time, dallying on the ball and allowing Atkinson to get back and block the shot.

From BBC

Arsenal went into half-time with 15 attempts at goal, of which only three were on target, and the second half started with Odegaard dallying on another chance.

From BBC

I see the USA dallying with autocracy and anti-democratic ideology — deplorable and chilling.

From Seattle Times