dally
Waste precious time
Dally means to waste time or linger idly: Don't dally—we're already late.
It can suggest playful or flirtatious behavior: He dallied with the idea of quitting but never did.
To dally with someone often implies a casual romantic involvement not meant to be serious: She dallied with a few suitors before settling down.
Linger without purpose
- tarryDelay one's leaving
- lingerStay beyond necessity
- loiterRemain idly in place
- procrastinateDelay action unnecessarily
stall · lag · waste time · kill time · drag one's feet · take one's time · putter · dillydally
dawdle
Linger without purpose
procrastinate · stall · lag · waste time · kill time · drag one's feet · take one's time · putter · dillydally · shilly-shally
flirt
Playfully attract attention
coquet · play around · lead on · string along · romance · woo · court · entice · tease · tempt
frolic
Lighthearted playful movement
sport · jest · play · rollick · skylark · caper · amuse · toy with · trifle with · fool around
dallycommit
Bind to a course
dedicate · engage · devote · settle down · mean business
- dilly dalliedDelayed through aimless loitering
- dilly dallyWaste time idly
- dilly dallyingIdling without purpose
- dilly dalliesDelays through idle wandering
dallying, dalliance, dilly-dally, dilly-dallying, dallied, dallies