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shilly-shally

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shil·ly-shal·ly  (shl-shl)
intr.v. shil·ly-shal·lied (-ld), shil·ly-shal·ly·ing, shil·ly-shal·lies (-lz)
1. To procrastinate.
2. To be unable to come to a decision; vacillate.
3. To spend time on insignificant things; dawdle.
adj.
Hesitant; vacillating.
n. pl. shil·ly-shal·lies
Procrastination; hesitation.
adv.
In a hesitant manner; irresolutely.
[Reduplication of the question shall I?]
shilly-shalli·er n.
Translations
shilly-shally [ˈʃɪlɪˌʃælɪ] VI → vacilar, titubear
shilly-shally [ˈʃɪliʃæli] vi → tergiverser, atermoyer
shilly-shally
vi (esp Brit inf) → unschlüssig sein; stop shilly-shallying → lass das Fackeln; you’ve shilly-shallied long enough → du hast lange genug gezögert


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
There is no use in this shilly-shally way of yours, St.
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Stowe, Harriet Beecher View in context
I mean, you are never shilly-shally, first making up your mind that you won't do a thing, and then doing it after all?
Adam Bede by Eliot, George View in context
You're a shilly-shally fellow: you take after your poor mother.
Silas Marner by Eliot, George View in context
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