Shilly-shally

Meaning

"Shilly-shally" is an idiom that means to delay or hesitate in taking action, often due to uncertainty or fear of making a mistake. It can also refer to someone who is indecisive or lacks confidence.

Usage

• He often shilly-shallied when it came to making decisions, which caused problems in his personal and professional life.
• The team's shilly-shallying on the court cost them several points in the game.
• She had a tendency to shilly-shally when faced with criticism or difficult situations.
• He shilly-shallied around making an important business decision, which ultimately led to missed opportunities.
• The manager's indecisiveness and shilly-shallying were causing morale issues within the team.

Roots and History

"Shilly-shally" is believed to have originated from the Scots language in the 17th century. It was originally used to describe someone who was slow or hesitant in taking action due to fear or uncertainty. Over time, it became more commonly used as an idiom in English with a figurative meaning.

Synonyms in English

• Dilly-dally
• Hesitate
• Delay
• Stall
• Procrastinate

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: Retirarse (to retreat)
• French: Hésiter (to hesitate)
• German: Zögern (to delay)
• Italian: Ritardare (to delay)
• Chinese: 怠惰 (lazy or sluggish)

Similar Idioms

• status quo

• spill the beans

• sacred cow