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willy-nilly

   Also found in: Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.03 sec.
wil·ly-nil·ly  (wl-nl)
adv.
1. Whether desired or not: After her boss fell sick, she willy-nilly found herself directing the project.
2. Without order or plan; haphazardly.
adj.
1. Being or occurring whether desired or not: willy-nilly cooperation.
2. Disordered; haphazard: willy-nilly zoning laws.

[Alteration of will ye (or he), nill ye (or he), be you (or he) willing, be you (or he) unwilling.]

willy-nilly [ˌwɪlɪˈnɪlɪ]
adv
whether desired or not
adj
occurring or taking place whether desired or not
[Old English wile hē, nyle hē, literally: will he or will he not; nyle, from ne not + willan to will1]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.willy-nilly - in a random mannerwilly-nilly - in a random manner; "the houses were randomly scattered"; "bullets were fired into the crowd at random"
2.willy-nilly - without having a choice

willy-nilly
adverb
1. whether you like it or not, necessarily, of necessity, perforce, whether or no, whether desired or not, nolens volens (Latin) We were dragged willy-nilly into the argument.
2. haphazardly, at random, randomly, without order, without method, without planning, any old how (informal) The papers were just bundled into the drawers willy-nilly.
Translations
willy-nilly [ˈwɪlɪˈnɪlɪ] ADV
1. (= unsystematically) → de cualquier manera
2. (= willingly or not) → quiérase o no, guste o no guste
willy-nilly [ˌwɪliˈnɪli] adv
(= in a disorganized way) → pêle-mêle
(= whether sb wants or not) → bon gré mal gré
willy-nilly
adv
(= at random) choose, allocateaufs Geratewohl; acceptwahllos, ohne Weiteres
(= willingly or not)wohl oder übel, nolens volens
willy-nilly [ˌwɪlɪˈnɪlɪ] advvolente o nolente


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They are too many, and willy-nilly they'll drag down the would-be equestrian before ever he gets astride.
Thus the skillful general conducts his army just as though he were leading a single man, willy-nilly, by the hand.
He had made them sit up and take notice, and now, willy-nilly, they were dealing him hands and clamoring for him to play.
 
 
 
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