Download the app
educalingo
Search

Meaning of "dilly-dallying" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF DILLY-DALLYING

dilly-dallying  [ˈdɪlɪdælɪɪŋ] play
facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsapp

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF DILLY-DALLYING

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Dilly-Dallying is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES DILLY-DALLYING MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Definition of dilly-dallying in the English dictionary

The definition of dilly-dallying in the dictionary is wasting time by being indecisive. Other definition of dilly-dallying is loitering; dawdling.


WORDS THAT RHYME WITH DILLY-DALLYING


accompanying
əˈkʌmpənɪɪŋ
annoying
əˈnɔɪɪŋ
bullying
ˈbʊlɪɪŋ
buying
ˈbaɪɪŋ
copying
ˈkɒpɪɪŋ
crying
ˈkraɪɪŋ
drying
ˈdraɪɪŋ
dying
ˈdaɪɪŋ
flying
ˈflaɪɪŋ
laying
ˈleɪɪŋ
lying
ˈlaɪɪŋ
outlying
ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ
paying
ˈpeɪɪŋ
playing
ˈpleɪɪŋ
praying
ˈpreɪɪŋ
saying
ˈseɪɪŋ
shilly-shallying
ˈʃɪlɪˈʃælɪɪŋ
trying
ˈtraɪɪŋ
underlying
ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ
varying
ˈvɛərɪɪŋ

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE DILLY-DALLYING

diligently
dill
dill pickle
dilli
dillies
dilly
dilly bag
dilly-dallied
dilly-dallies
dilly-dally
diltiazem
dilucidate
dilucidation
diluent
dilutable
dilute
dilutee
diluteness
diluter
dilution

WORDS THAT END LIKE DILLY-DALLYING

belying
contour flying
formation flying
high-flying
inlying
instrument flying
kite flying
low-flying
low-lying
multiplying
noncomplying
nonflying
ollying
overlying
role playing
role-playing
stunt flying
uncomplying
uplying
yogic flying

Synonyms and antonyms of dilly-dallying in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «DILLY-DALLYING»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «dilly-dallying» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of dilly-dallying

Translation of «dilly-dallying» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF DILLY-DALLYING

Find out the translation of dilly-dallying to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of dilly-dallying from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «dilly-dallying» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

拖拖拉拉,磨磨蹭蹭
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

mentiras y vacilaciones
570 millions of speakers

English

dilly-dallying
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

आगा - dallying
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

ديلي - عوب
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

Дилли - dallying
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

Dilly - dallying
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

ঘুরিয়া-dallying
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

tergiversations
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Dilly-dallying
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Tändelei
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

ディリー- dallying
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

망설 일
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Dilly-dallying
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

dilly - dallying
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

மாபெரும் dallying
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

बिघडवणे
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

Oyalanayım deme
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

dilly - dallying
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

dilly - dallying
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

Дилли - dallying
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

dilly - dallying
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

dilly - dallying
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

Dilly - dallying
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

Dilly - dallying
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

Dilly - dallying
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of dilly-dallying

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «DILLY-DALLYING»

The term «dilly-dallying» is normally little used and occupies the 117.010 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Little used
45
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «dilly-dallying» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of dilly-dallying
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «dilly-dallying».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «DILLY-DALLYING» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «dilly-dallying» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «dilly-dallying» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about dilly-dallying

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «DILLY-DALLYING»

Discover the use of dilly-dallying in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to dilly-dallying and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Tell it Together: Foolproof Scripts for Story Theatre
GROCER: Now, don't be dilly-dallying on the way home. LITTLE BOY: No, sir. I won't do any dilly-dallying. NARRATOR: The little boy headed back down the road toward home. CHORUS: Sody, Sody, Sody Salleratus. NARRATOR: He went ...
Barbara McBride-Smith, 2001
2
Stress Management For Dummies
... part of a lifetime surfing through this stuff, not to mention just getting online. The Internet can easily become a black hole sucking in all your free time. Getting the most out of technology Enjoy technology, but curb your electronic dilly-dallying.
Allen Elkin, 2011
3
The English Dialect Dictionary, Being the Complete ...
Ant. What are you dilly dallying abootl Ballymma Obs. (I892). Cum}, e.Yks.I w.Yks. '; w.Yk|.5 Tha'll be dilly0 Passing from Earth-heaps to dallying wal it a] be ower liate an' then. e.Lan.1, Chs.', lllot.I Lin. Goa home thee sen, don't dilly dally, ...
Joseph Wright, 1898
4
Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard)
It is the Government, rather than the donors, which has been dilly-dallying in getting the funds. Eng. Rotich: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think that, that is true. It is true that Central Kenya is one of the most productive areas of  ...
5
Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard)
It is the Government, rather than the donors, which has been dilly-dallying in getting the funds. Eng. Rotich: Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not think that, that is true. It is true that Central Kenya is one of the most productive areas of  ...
6
I Pour Out My Soul
Lord why do I keep dilly-dallying about, When I am happy and not about to pout? Why do I keep playing a game and killing time, When I should be praising You and writing a rhyme? In writing these rhymes I am witnessing for You, Giving the  ...
Betty S. Divers, 2009
7
The Japanese On Trial: Allied War Crimes Operations in the ...
... no trials in 1949. Government spokespersons claimed lack of “proper accommodations and other essentials” needed for the. trials. “Dilly-dallying,”. rejoined. the. opposition.72. When, in late 1949, the government expressed its concern that.
Philip R. Piccigallo, 2013
8
The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional ...
... 1995 • Nobody should dilly-dally over this, watching the situation to see how the group develop. You have to jump on them now— Kevin Sampson, Powder, p. 14S, 1999 • [Pjeople were not impressed with my dilly-dallying— Lanre Fehintoia .
Eric Partridge, Tom Dalzell, Terry Victor, 2006
9
The English dialect dictionary, being the complete ...
[di-li-dali. -daali.] I. a. To delay. loiter, hesitate. Fif. ._lA.\I.) Ant. \Vhat are you dilly dallying aboot? Ballymrlm Obs. (1892). Cum.', e.Ylts.l w.YksF; w.Yks.5 Tha'll be dillyPassing from Earth-heaps to tlallying wal it al he ower laate an' then. e.Lan.'.
Joseph Wright
10
Kenya National Assembly Official Record (Hansard)
I am a supporter of the Government and a strong supporter of the Government and I am really Kanu, wedded Kanu, but I am not prepared to see the very Government I support, dilly dallying, and fearing a few groups of people here, simply ...

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «DILLY-DALLYING»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term dilly-dallying is used in the context of the following news items.
1
After political dilly-dallying, PPP extends Rangers' stay - Daily Times
KARACHI: The Sindh government issued a much-awaited notification in the early hours of Thursday, extending the special policing powers ... «Daily Times, Jul 15»
2
CM Devendra Fadnavis's plan for 400-sq.ft Dharavi houses found …
But there was always dilly-dallying on part of the government and no clear guidelines on the number of houses to be constructed and the time ... «Daily News & Analysis, Jul 15»
3
RMG workers demand payment of wages, bonus by July 14
He said no dilly-dallying of garments owners over paying wages, arrears and bonuses will be tolerated. Speakers also urged the government to ... «Prothom Alo, Jul 15»
4
allAfrica.com: Uganda: Residents Demand Police Report On Killings
Mr Emmanuel Khaleke, the LC3 chairperson, Bukokho Sub-County, said police are always dilly-dallying with reports of their deceased relatives ... «AllAfrica.com, Jul 15»
5
I tried to befriend chatbots, but they drove me crazy
When I pressed him about his virtual dilly-dallying, he denied ever having said he had a boyfriend. I got fed up with his “lies” and decided to ... «Fusion, Jul 15»
6
The Self-Promoting Iran Hawk Too Extreme For AIPAC, And His …
... is mounting for Klein, who sees any conversation that ignores the prospects of military intervention as the equivalent of political dilly-dallying. «Huffington Post, Jul 15»
7
Raleigh City Council Live Blog: Evening Session | News | Indy Week
7:08 p.m.: Show's on the road after some dilly-dallying. Wayne Maiorano is phoning it in again. Mayor Nancy thanks everyone for coming; ... «The Independent Weekly, Jul 15»
8
It's a game of patience once more for us West Brom fans | Tamworth …
But, why oh why, is there so much dithering and dilly-dallying techniques in our pursuit of top targets? Queens Park Ranger's Matt Phillips is ... «Tamworth Herald, Jul 15»
9
PM Narendra Modi's Central Asia tour: India set to push trade with …
KAZAKHSTAN: After years of dilly-dallying, India is finally set to push trade and investment ties with resource-rich Kazakhstan, with Prime ... «Economic Times, Jul 15»
10
'Centre works for businessmen'
... then people will acknowledge the good work of the previous government... apprehending this, the present government is dilly-dallying," said ... «Times of India, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Dilly-Dallying [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/dilly-dallying>. Apr 2024 ».
Download the educalingo app
en
English dictionary
Discover all that is hidden in the words on
index
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z