shilly-shally: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, dated
Quick answer
What does “shilly-shally” mean?
To be indecisive or to hesitate repeatedly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To be indecisive or to hesitate repeatedly.
To waver or procrastinate in making a decision, often due to uncertainty or lack of resolve, implying ineffectiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal; the word is equally rare in both varieties, with no significant dialectal variation.
Connotations
Informal, often humorous or pejorative, suggesting weakness or procrastination.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern usage; considered old-fashioned and seldom used in contemporary speech.
Grammar
How to Use “shilly-shally” in a Sentence
intransitiveshilly-shally about somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shilly-shally” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Stop shilly-shallying and make a decision.
American English
- Quit shilly-shallying and choose already.
adverb
British English
- He answered shilly-shally, unsure of what to say.
American English
- She acted shilly-shally when asked for her opinion.
adjective
British English
- He has a shilly-shally attitude towards everything.
American English
- Her shilly-shally behavior is frustrating.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; if employed, it criticizes indecision in managerial contexts.
Academic
Not used in formal academic writing due to its informal and dated nature.
Everyday
Used informally to describe someone who can't make up their mind, often in casual conversation.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shilly-shally”
- Using it only as a noun; it functions primarily as a verb, but also as adjective and adverb.
- Overusing in formal writing where more neutral terms like 'hesitate' are preferred.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal and somewhat old-fashioned, so it's not suitable for formal contexts.
Yes, it can be used as a verb, adjective, and adverb, though the verb form is most common.
It comes from the reduplication of 'shilly', an alteration of 'shall I?', indicating indecision.
It is rare and considered dated, so it's not commonly used in contemporary speech or writing.
To be indecisive or to hesitate repeatedly.
Shilly-shally: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɪl.iˈʃæl.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɪl.iˈʃæl.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “no more shilly-shallying”
- “shilly-shally around”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'shall I?' repeated, as in 'Shall I do this or that?' reflecting indecision.
Conceptual Metaphor
Indecision as physical wavering or shaking.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'shilly-shally' mean?