Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dilly-dally

/ˈdɪliˌdæli/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.40 in modern English

Syllables: dil-ly--dal-ly
IPA: /ˈdɪliˌdæli/

18

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

5

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To dawdle; to waste time; to procrastinate.

Intransitive verb

Example Sentences

"It is something to have been an old soldier, but more still to have been a doctor. There is no time to dilly-dally in our work."
"“I wouldn't dilly-dally long if I were you,” said Harkless, and his advice seemed good to the shell-men."
"It likewise manifests the frankness of men who do not dilly-dally with terms, but who say what they mean, and who mean to settle down to a long, hard fight."
"No one can accuse the filmmakers of dillydallying; no sooner have the opening credits ended than we’re watching, via a mirrored ceiling, a couple writhing naked in coital ecstasy."

Etymology

Reduplication of dally.

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

dilly-dallies (present, singular) dilly-dallying (participle, present) dilly-dallied (participle, past) dilly-dallied (past) dilly dally (alternative) dillydally (alternative)

Synonyms

arse about arse around bludge bum around cabbage clown around dally dawdle dick about dick around diddle dilly-dally

Homonyms

dillydally

Questions

How do you pronounce dilly-dally?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɪliˌdæli/.
What does dilly-dally mean?: To dawdle; to waste time; to procrastinate.
Where does dilly-dally come from?: Reduplication of dally.

How to pronounce dilly-dally

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “dilly-dally”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈdɪliˌdæli/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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