Shilly-shally
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Shilly-shally is a verb meaning (informal) To procrastinate.
Meaning
(informal) To procrastinate.
More Meanings
- (informal) To vacillate.
- (informal) Indecisive; wavering.
- (informal) Indecision; irresolution.
Example Sentences
Irwine would think him a shilly-shally fellow ever after.
Then Germany lost its halo. It shilly-shallied over Ukraine.
The shilly-shallying performance on domestic issues that has marked Bush's first two years in office is not the result of ineptitude.
"Why, you sees [sic], Captain, your time has come, and you can't shilly-shally any longer. You have had your full swing; your years are up, and you must die like a man!"
Word Forms
- shilly-shallies
- shilly-shallying
- shilly-shallied
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include hesitation, equivocation, shirk, palter, shyster, shill.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.