shilly-shally

[ shil-ee-shal-ee ]

verb (used without object)

, shil·ly-shal·lied, shil·ly-shal·ly·ing.

1. to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.
2. to waste time; dawdle.

noun

, plural shil·ly-shal·lies.

1. irresolution; indecision; vacillation:

   It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.

adjective

1. irresolute; undecided; vacillating.

adverb

1. irresolutely.

Other Words From

• shilly-shalli·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shilly-shally¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; originally repeated question, shall I? shall I?; later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally

Example Sentences

Let’s not shilly-shally about this.

From Washington Post

Masood then pushes a fuller one for a quick single, which they dash through for but Shoaib did shilly-shally a little, meaning a bullet throw might have troubled him, but the effort from the fielder coming round from mid-on hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, with Masood well in his ground.

From The Guardian

Masood then pushes a fuller one for a quick single, which they dash through for but Shoaib did shilly-shally a little, meaning a bullet throw might have troubled him, but the effort from the fielder coming round from mid-on hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, with Masood well in his ground.

From The Guardian

In a series of swift blackout scenes, the three shilly-shally about art and life and money as they try to come to terms on the sale of the painting, which, much like these confederates, may not be what it appears to be.

From New York Times

Christgau writes, “I’ve told all with her cooperation or in one or two cases acquiescence. She’s glad this book takes love so seriously, and although she’s less bold than I am, she very much agrees that to shilly-shally about love is a species of lying.”

From Time