adj
Meaning 1
Indecisive; wavering.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
shilly-shally
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.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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rhymes with -æli
noun
Meaning 2
Indecision; irresolution.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To procrastinate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
Examples
- 1866, Charles Reade, Griffith Gaunt, in The Argosy: Volume 2 - Page 16, published by Strahan and Co. "She would have come a few months ago, and gladly: I'll write to her." "Better talk to her, and persuade her." "I'll do that too, but I must write to her first". "So do then; but whatever you do, don't shilly-shally no longer."
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To vacillate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
A reduplication of shall I? An older form was Shill-I-shall-I.