— shilly-shallier , n.
/shil"ee shal'ee/ , v. , shilly-shallied, shilly-shallying , n. , pl. shilly-shallies , 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.
[ 1690-1700; orig. repeated question, shall I? shall I? later altered on the model of its synonym dilly-dally ]