shilly-shally

verb (used without object), shil·ly-shal·lied, shil·ly-shal·ly·ing.

1. to show indecision or hesitation; be irresolute; vacillate.
2. to waste time; dawdle.

noun, plural shil·ly-shal·lies.

3. irresolution; indecision; vacillation: It was sheer shilly-shally on his part.

adjective

4. irresolute; undecided; vacillating.

adverb

5. irresolutely.

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).