dallyverb [ I ]
uk/ˈdæl.i/us/ˈdæl.i/old-fashionedto waste time or do something slowly
See also
dilly-dally
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Delaying and wasting time
- ado
- be on ice idiom
- bugger
- bugger about
- bugger sb about
- carry
- hold
- hold sb/sth back
- hold sb/sth up
- hold up
- ice
- kick
- kick the can down the road idiom
- push
- retardation
- set sth/sb back
- shelve
- sit
- sit on sth
- spin your wheels idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Slow and moving slowly
Examples from literature
- Blueberries were ripe, and beguiled the pair into many a moment's dallying by the wayside.
- I dallied over my drink, and then got up and excused myself, saying that I wanted to turn in early.
- I have dawdled and dallied, and refused to face things long enough.
- The pair dallied behind while the warriors continued their march.
- We have failed to regard our leisure hours as a liability but, like the lotus eaters, have dallied in the realm of pleasure.
Phrasal verb(s)
dally with sb
dally with sth