dilly-dally
/ˈdɪli dæli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdɪli dæli/ (ame, ipa)
dilly-dally — verb
- dilly-dallypresent simple I / you / we / they
- dilly-dallieshe / she / it
- dilly-dalliedpast simple
- dilly-dallying-ing form
1. to keep putting action off by moving too slowly, fussing over small things, or h
to keep putting action off by moving too slowly, fussing over small things, or hesitating instead of getting on with the job.
Jisoo kept dilly-dallying at the shoe store while the taxi waited outside.
dilly-dally + place while others wait
Don't dilly-dally over your lunch, Omar, or we'll miss the ferry.
imperative warning: dilly-dally over + noun
The committee dilly-dallied for weeks before choosing a new library manager.
Padma dilly-dallied by the gate, checking the same bag again and again.
If we dilly-dally now, the rain will catch us on the trail.
- dawdle
the plain everyday word for moving or acting too slowly.
- procrastinate
more formal, and usually about delaying work or decisions rather than physical slowness.
- stall
often suggests deliberate delay, not simply slow fussing.
- hurry
means to move or act quickly instead of delaying.
- get moving
spoken phrase used to tell someone to start or speed up.
文法句型
dilly-dally over something
dilly-dally about doing something
用法筆記
Usually said when the delay is annoying other people or is making a plan run late.