Dally

/ˈdæli/ · verb

Meaning

To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle..

Definitions by Sense

1. To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
2. (ambitransitive) To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
3. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
4. Several wraps of rope around the saddle horn, used to stop animals in roping.
5. To wind the lasso rope (ie throw-rope) around the saddle horn (the saddle horn is attached to the pommel of a western style saddle) after the roping of an animal
6. (India) Alternative form of dolly (“offering of fruit or flowers”).

Example Sentences

I wish, grave governor, 'twere in my power / To favour you; but 'tis my father's cause, / Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally.

[…] after we by our presumptuous delays have put off God, and dallied with his grace; […]

[…] we have trifled too long already about a matter of such infinite moment, it is perfect Madness to dally any longer. […]

2024, The November Nethack Tournament achievements Dally with a foocubus

Not dallying with a Brace of Curtizans,

What matters is now if he tied hard and fast, / Or tumbled his steer with a dally.

The end of the top rope he dallied around the gooseneck trailer hitch.

We have known Mazagon and long-pod Beans to be thrown out of a dally, because they were full of seed!

Synonyms for dally

Antonyms for dally

Related Words

Word Forms

• dallies
• dallying
• dallied

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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