dilly-dallying
Killing time aimlessly
Dilly-dallying is wasting time through indecision or aimless activity when you should be getting something done.
It suggests dawdling, puttering, or being slow to act: Stop dilly-dallying and make up your mind.
The word carries mild impatience—something a parent might say to a child who won't get ready for school.
Leisurely time-wasting
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- putting offChoosing to delay
- postponingRescheduling for later
avoiding · hesitating · dragging feet · wasting time · foot-dragging · tarrying · lingering · loafing
Following a winding course
- amblingWalking without urgency
- potteringAimless light activity
- moseyingWalking slowly, aimlessly
- saunteringWalking in unhurried manner
browsing · window-shopping · lounging · puttering · frittering · tinkering · dabbling · fiddling
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- hemming and hawingIndecisive verbal stalling
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
fence-sitting · flip-flopping · shilly-shallying · uncertainty · hesitation · uncommitted · ambivalent · irresolute
dawdling
Leisurely time-wasting
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- delayingCausing later occurrence
- putting offChoosing to delay
postponing · avoiding · hesitating · dragging feet · wasting time · foot-dragging · tarrying · lingering · loafing · lagging
meandering
Following a winding course
sauntering · browsing · window-shopping · lounging · puttering · frittering · tinkering · dabbling · fiddling · noodling
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- hemming and hawingIndecisive verbal stalling
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
dithering · fence-sitting · flip-flopping · shilly-shallying · uncertainty · hesitation · uncommitted · ambivalent · irresolute · torn
dilly-dallyingtaking action
Initiating purposeful effort
getting down to business · buckling down · committing · resolving · determining
dilly-dallyinglabouring
Working strenuously at something
toiling · applying oneself · hustling · knuckling down · laboring