dillydally

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Word: Dillydally

Part of Speech: Verb

Definition: "Dillydally" means to waste time or to be slow in making a decision or doing something, especially when you should be doing it more quickly. It often implies that someone is being indecisive or is distracted by unimportant things instead of focusing on what needs to be done.

Usage Instructions

• You can use "dillydally" when talking about someone who is taking too long to start or finish a task.
• It's often used in informal contexts, so it's best suited for casual conversations rather than formal writing.

Example Sentences

1. Simple Example: "Stop dillydallying and start your homework!"
2. Contextual Example: "He dillydallied for hours before finally deciding to go for a walk."

Advanced Usage

In advanced contexts, you might encounter "dillydally" in discussions about time management or productivity. For example, you might say, "Her tendency to dillydally in meetings often leads to missed deadlines."

Word Variants

• Dillydallied (past tense): "They dillydallied all morning before leaving for the trip."
• Dillydallying (present participle): "She is dillydallying instead of preparing for her presentation."

Different Meanings

"Dillydally" primarily has one meaning related to procrastination and wasting time. However, it can also imply a playful or light-hearted approach to being slow, without serious consequences.

Synonyms

• Procrastinate
• Delay
• Dawdle
• Loaf
• Lollygag

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "dillydally" itself is not part of an idiom, it can be used in phrases like "don't dillydally," which means to not waste time.

Conclusion

In summary, "dillydally" is a fun and informal way to describe someone who is taking too long to get started on something. It suggests that they should be doing it faster and not getting distracted.

Academic

Verb

1. postpone doing what one should be doing
   • He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days

Synonyms

• procrastinate
• stall
• drag one's feet
• drag one's heels
• shillyshally
• dilly-dally