shillyshally

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: procrastinationcunctationprocrastinatestalldrag one's feetdrag one's heelsdilly-dallydillydally

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later timeSynonyms: procrastinationcunctation

Verb (2)

  1. be uncertain and vague
  2. postpone doing what one should be doing“He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days”Synonyms: procrastinatestalldrag one's feetdrag one's heelsdilly-dallydillydally
Advertisement

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Shill-I-shall-I \Shill"-I-shall`-I\, Shilly-shally \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, adv. [A reduplication of shall I.] In an irresolute, undecided, or hesitating manner. [1913 Webster]

I am somewhat dainty in making a resolution, because when I make it, I keep it; I don't stand shill-I-shall-I then; if I say 't, I'll do 't. --Congreve. [1913 Webster]

Shilly-shally \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, v. i. To hesitate; to act in an irresolute manner; hence, to occupy one's self with trifles. [1913 Webster]
Shilly-shally \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, n. Irresolution; hesitation; also, occupation with trifles. [1913 Webster]

She lost not one of her forty-five minutes in picking and choosing, -- no shilly-shally in Kate. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

Advertisement