Everyday · Old & rare words · Time
Dilly-dally: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Dilly-dally verb. To waste time, especially by dithering or dawdling.
How to say it
DIL-ee-dal-ee/ˈdɪlɪˌdali/
4 syllables, stressed on the first (DIL). Forms: dilly-dallying, dilly-dallied.
Dilly-dally in a sentence
Stop dilly-dallying and pick a film, or we'll miss the start.
We dilly-dallied over the menu until the kitchen closed.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- dawdle
- dither
- loiter
- faff
Opposite:
- hurry
- hasten
Where dilly-dally comes from
A playful doubling of dally, to waste time, from the 1600s.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
We _____ over the menu until the kitchen closed.
- dilly-dally
- hornswoggle
- skedaddle
Show the answer
dilly-dally: We dilly-dallied over the menu until the kitchen closed.