shillyshally

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

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}]

from The 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]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

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]

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