Meaning of shilly-shally | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To procrastinate.
   informal
2. To vacillate.
   informal

Equivalents

Examples

“"Why, you sees [sic], Captain, your time has come⟳, and you can't shilly-shally any longer. You have⟳ had your full swing⟳; your years are up, and you must die⟳ like⟳ a man!"”

“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."”

“However the resolutions seem merely calculated to waste⟳ time, as they involve⟳ a whole preliminary discussion before the really important matters can be settled. If the Liberal party were sincere, there would doubtless be an attempt⟳ to turn⟳ out the Government at once, on the ground that such shilly-shallying with a matter⟳ of such importance cannot be allowed”

“The shilly-shallying performance on domestic issues that has marked Bush's first two years in office is not the result⟳ of ineptitude.”

“Then Germany lost its halo. It shilly-shallied over Ukraine.”

CEFR level