Synonyms for shilly-shally

Grammar : Verb

Spell : shil-ee-shal-ee

Phonetic Transcription : ˈʃɪl iˌʃæl i

Top 10 synonyms for shilly-shally

Other synonyms for the word shilly-shally

Définition of shilly-shally

Origin : "to vacillate," 1782, from adverbial expression to stand shilly-shally (1703), earlier shill I, shall I (1700), a fanciful reduplication of shall I? (cf. wishy-washy, dilly-dally, etc.). From 1734 as an adjective, by 1755 as a noun. Related: Shilly-shallying (1816).

verb procrastinate

Example sentences :

There is no use in this shilly-shally way of yours, St. Clare!
Extract from : « Uncle Tom's Cabin » by Harriet Beecher Stowe

Shilly-shally, to trifle or fritter away time; to be irresolute.
Extract from : « The Slang Dictionary » by John Camden Hotten

Drapery it was, and quickly; for Mrs. Munsey was not wont to shilly-shally.
Extract from : « Tales of Mean Streets » by Arthur Morrison

Strange that people will have so much faith in shilly-shally!
Extract from : « Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 7 (of 20) » by Charles Sumner

"I have little experience of shilly-shally methods," replied his visitor.
Extract from : « The Open Question » by Elizabeth Robins

Which, by the way, amounts to an admission that he does shilly-shally sometimes.
Extract from : « The Humour of Homer and Other Essays » by Samuel Butler

He mustn't palter, or trifle, or shilly-shally about that iron certainty.
Extract from : « The Devil's Garden » by W. B. Maxwell

They shilly-shally, they pick and choose, they discuss, they criticise.
Extract from : « Post-Prandial Philosophy » by Grant Allen

But Chance—avenger of all shilly-shally—settled the matter offhand.
Extract from : « Henry Brocken » by Walter J. de la Mare

Your Uncle William used to make fun of me and sing 'Shilly-shally with the wee girls, ha, ha, ha!'
Extract from : « The Foolish Lovers » by St. John G. Ervine

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