Dilly-dally

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.

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