shilly-shally

UK: /ˈʃɪliʃæli/ US: /ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/ ,(shil′ē shal′ē)

Inflections of 'shilly-shally' (n): npl: shilly-shallies

Inflections of 'shilly-shally' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

shilly-shallies

v 3rd person singular

shilly-shallying

v pres p

shilly-shallied

v past

shilly-shallied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

shil•ly-shal•ly /ˈʃɪliˌʃæli/   v. [no object] , -shal•lied, -shal•ly•ing. 

1. to show an inability to make a decision:
   Quit shilly-shallying and make up your mind!

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

shil•ly-shal•ly  (shil′ē shal′ē), v., -lied, -ly•ing, n., pl. -shal•lies, adj., adv. 
v.i. 

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

n. 

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

adj. 

4. irresolute;
   undecided;
   vacillating.

adv. 

5. irresolutely.

• origin, originally repeated question, shall I? shall I? later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally 1690–1700

shil′ly-shal′li•er, n.