SHILLYSHALLY (shillyshallied)
Dictionary entry overview: What does shillyshally mean?
• SHILLYSHALLY (noun)
The noun SHILLYSHALLY has 1 sense:
1. the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time
Familiarity information: SHILLYSHALLY used as a noun is very rare.
• SHILLYSHALLY (verb)
The verb SHILLYSHALLY has 2 senses:
1. be uncertain and vague
2. postpone doing what one should be doing
Familiarity information: SHILLYSHALLY used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SHILLYSHALLY (noun)
Meaning:
The act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or defering an action to a later time
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
cunctation; procrastination; shillyshally
Hypernyms ("shillyshally" is a kind of...):
delay; holdup (the act of delaying; inactivity resulting in something being put off until a later time)
• SHILLYSHALLY (verb)
Meaning:
Be uncertain and vague
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Hypernyms (to "shillyshally" is one way to...):
hover; oscillate; vacillate; vibrate (be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Postpone doing what one should be doing
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Synonyms:
stall; procrastinate; drag one's heels; drag one's feet; dillydally; dilly-dally; shillyshally
Context example:
He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days
Hypernyms (to "shillyshally" is one way to...):
delay (act later than planned, scheduled, or required)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shillyshally"):
procrastinate (postpone or delay needlessly)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s
