Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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verb
To procrastinate, put off; to dawdle, avoid, or make progress slowly and reluctantly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
Synonyms: drag one's heels
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To intentionally stall, to delay, to obstruct.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: idiomatic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: slow-walk, dilly-dally
Antonyms: none provided
verb
postpone doing what one should be doing
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: procrastinate, stall, drag one's heels, shillyshally, dilly-dally, dillydally
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: delay
Narrower terms: procrastinate
History
From the idea of walking while dragging one's feet along the ground, either from lack of enthusiasm or to intentionally slow down movement. Compare dig in one's heels (“firmly oppose”).
Across languages
15 source translations are retained for this English entry.
