The phrase dilly-dally refers to wasting time by being indecisive, delaying, or procrastinating, often due to hesitation or a lack of urgency. It conveys a sense of aimless or unnecessary delay, usually when action or decision-making is needed. Below are sentences and explanations highlighting the phrase dilly-dally:
- Don’t dilly-dally; we’re already late for the meeting!
- She was dilly-dallying at the bus stop, unsure whether to take the earlier bus or wait for a later one.
- We can’t afford to dilly-dally any longer; the deadline is fast approaching.
- The children were dilly-dallying on their way to school, stopping to play in the park.
- He spent the entire afternoon dilly-dallying, avoiding his responsibilities at work.
- Stop dilly-dallying and get to work—there’s so much to do!
- She had a habit of dilly-dallying when making decisions, which often delayed projects.
- The group began to dilly-dally instead of starting the hike, and by the time they set off, it was already late in the afternoon.
- We don’t have time to dilly-dally with small tasks; we need to focus on the big picture.
- He would always dilly-dally at the grocery store, looking at every item in detail, even when he was in a rush.
Synonyms:
- Procrastinate
- Hesitate
- Linger
- Stall
- Delay
- Fritter away time
- Dawdle
- Waste time
- Be indecisive
Antonyms:
- Hurry
- Rush
- Expedite
- Accelerate
- Get moving
- Be decisive
- Act promptly
Related Words:
- Delay
- Hesitation
- Indecision
- Procrastination
- Inaction
- Wasting time
Phrasal Verbs:
- Put off: To delay or postpone something intentionally.
- Drag one’s feet: To act slowly or reluctantly, often due to avoidance or hesitation.
- Hold back: To delay or hesitate in taking action.
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Beat around the bush: To avoid addressing the main point or task, often by dilly-dallying with irrelevant things.
- Sit on one’s hands: To do nothing when action is required, similar to dilly-dallying.
- Procrastinate until the last minute: To delay or put off something until time is running out.
- Waste time: To use time ineffectively or without purpose, much like dilly-dallying.
To dilly-dally is to waste time, delay, or avoid making decisions or taking actions. Whether due to hesitation, indecisiveness, or just a lack of urgency, this behavior leads to unnecessary postponements and inefficiency.