shillyshally

4 definitions found

shillyshally - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Shill-I-shall-I \Shill"-I-shall`-I\, Shilly-shally
  \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, adv. [A reduplication of shall I.]
     In an irresolute, undecided, or hesitating manner.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           I am somewhat dainty in making a resolution, because
           when I make it, I keep it; I don't stand
           shill-I-shall-I then; if I say 't, I'll do 't.
                                                    --Congreve.
     [1913 Webster]

  Shilly-shally \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, v. i.
     To hesitate; to act in an irresolute manner; hence, to occupy
     one's self with trifles.
     [1913 Webster]

  Shilly-shally \Shil"ly-shal`ly\, n.
     Irresolution; hesitation; also, occupation with trifles.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           She lost not one of her forty-five minutes in picking
           and choosing, -- no shilly-shally in Kate. --De
                                                    Quincey.
     [1913 Webster]

shillyshally - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  shillyshally
      n 1: the act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or
           defering an action to a later time [syn: procrastination,
           cunctation, shillyshally]
      v 1: be uncertain and vague
      2: postpone doing what one should be doing; "He did not want to
         write the letter and procrastinated for days" [syn:
         procrastinate, stall, drag one's feet, drag one's   heels
         , shillyshally, dilly-dally, dillydally]