verb (used without object), shil·ly-shal·lied, shil·ly-shal·ly·ing.
- to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.
- to waste time; dawdle.
noun, plural shil·ly-shal·lies.
- irresolution; indecision; vacillation: It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.
adjective
- irresolute; undecided; vacillating.
adverb
- irresolutely.
verb -lies, -lying or -lied
- (intr) to be indecisive, esp over unimportant matters; hesitate
adverb
- in an indecisive manner
adjective
- indecisive or hesitant
noun plural -lies
- indecision or hesitation; vacillation
v.“to vacillate,” 1782, from adverbial expression to stand shilly-shally (1703), earlier shill I, shall I (1700), a fanciful reduplication of shall I? (cf. wishy-washy, dilly-dally, etc.). From 1734 as an adjective, by 1755 as a noun. Related: Shilly-shallying (1816).