dillydallying
Dragging one's feet
Dillydallying is wasting time through indecision or aimless delay.
The word suggests puttering, hesitating, or dawdling when action is needed: Stop dillydallying and get dressed—we're going to be late.
It carries a mildly scolding tone, often directed at children or anyone moving too slowly.
Leisurely time-wasting
- lollygaggingAimless time-wasting
- shilly-shallyingProlonged indecisive behavior
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
delaying · foot-dragging · postponing · deferring · temporizing · time-wasting · frittering · piddling
Passing time idly
- lazingResting without aim
- loungingReclining in idleness
- slackingAvoiding effort deliberately
- bummingHabitually seeking freebies
vegging · idling · lingering · loitering · pottering · mooching · goldbricking · malingering
Pausing with doubt
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
- fence-sittingRefusing to take sides
equivocating · second-guessing · dithering · flip-flopping · irresolute · undecided · ambivalent · faltering
Following a winding course
- saunteringWalking in unhurried manner
- strollingWalking at ease
- amblingWalking without urgency
- moseyingWalking slowly, aimlessly
rambling · unhurried · poky · plodding · slow-paced · lackadaisical · languid · easygoing
dawdling
Leisurely time-wasting
- lollygaggingAimless time-wasting
- shilly-shallyingProlonged indecisive behavior
- tarryingRemaining beyond expected time
stalling · delaying · foot-dragging · postponing · deferring · temporizing · time-wasting · frittering · piddling · faffing
loafing
Passing time idly
bumming · vegging · idling · lingering · loitering · pottering · mooching · goldbricking · malingering · shirking
hesitating
Pausing with doubt
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
fence-sitting · equivocating · second-guessing · dithering · flip-flopping · irresolute · undecided · ambivalent · faltering · havering
meandering
Following a winding course
- saunteringWalking in unhurried manner
- strollingWalking at ease
- amblingWalking without urgency
moseying · rambling · unhurried · poky · plodding · slow-paced · lackadaisical · languid · easygoing · casual
dillydallyinggetting down to business
Focusing on the task
buckling down · pressing on · cracking on · taking action · punctual
dillydallyinggetting down to business
Focusing on the task
buckling down · taking action · decisive · focused · determined
dawdle, wishy-washy, dally, dilly, dilly-dally, dillydally, dilly-dallying, shilly-shally, dallied