Dillydally
When we were children, adults occasionally warned us not to dillydally. This often happened when we failed to:
- Do our chores
- Finish our homework
- Go to bed on time
- Get up on time
- Take a bath
- Prepare for a special event
Dad often told us to rise and shine when we wanted to stay and sleep.
If we don’t want to do something, we dillydally.
We waste time. Similar words or expressions include:
- Lollygag
- Drag our feet
- Goof off
- Dawdle
Similar spellings include:
- Dilly dally
- Dilly-dally
All mean we do nothing or move slowly. We delay what we should do with less important activity.
We dillydally with actions that have no real purpose.
Rather than meaningful activity, we do something useless.
If we cannot decide, we may dillydally.
We put off doing anything, because we don’t know what to do. However, we can’t ride the fence forever. Eventually we must choose.
Perhaps we have several expressions for wasting time because we do it so often.
What do you think? Please comment.
“Don’t waste time along the way” (Luke 10:4 TLB).
Thanks to Kristy Robinson Horine for the suggestion. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
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