lallygag

American  

[lah-lee-gag, lal-ee-] / ˈlɑ liˌgæg, ˈlæl i- /

verb (used without object)

Informal.

lallygagged, lallygagging

1. lollygag.

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lallygag British  

/ ˈlælɪˌɡæɡ /

verb

1. (intr) to loiter aimlessly

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Usage

What does lallygag mean? To lallygag is to dilly-dally, dawdle, loaf around, or goof off. If you’re lallygagging, you’re wasting time by moving slowly or doing something less important than what you should be (or doing nothing at all).Lallygag is synonymous with the very similar spelled lollygag, which is much more commonly used. Both are very informal and are primarily used in the United States.Example: Coach yelled at Spencer for lallygagging at practice.

Etymology

Origin of lallygag

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Even if you get there in one piece, there won’t be much lallygagging around outside; you’d be spending every single minute of your life trying to not die.

From The Verge

It was Blenke that kept prowling about the major's, lallygagging with that French maid.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. MacCall was famous for her "whangdoodle pudding and lallygag sauce"—a title she had given once to cottage pudding and its accompanying dressing to satisfy little folks' teasing questions as to "what is that?"

From Project Gutenberg

And here you are, doing nothing and lallygagging at court with the nobility.

From Project Gutenberg

I've come all these miles for this young fellow; but I don't cotton to the idea of lallygagging four weeks in this burg.

From Project Gutenberg