a dawdle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a dawdle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an act of wasting time or being slow in completing a task. Example: "Instead of finishing his homework, he decided to take a dawdle around the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

What we have now, going for a championship, is a dawdle".

The Guardian - Sport

He's dropping back three furlongs from the Queen's Vase, so he didn't want a dawdle and a sprint.

The Guardian - Sport

The backstory muddles rather than clarifies the front end, and the long wait for the climax is more of a dawdle than a ratcheting up.

The New Yorker

"We didn't want a dawdle as we've got stamina," Owen, who owns Manor House Stables in Cheshire with Andrew Black, one of the founders of Betfair, said afterwards.

The Guardian - Sport

Claiming inspiration from actual events, this smartly written sophomore feature from the young director Ti West — whose debut, "The Roost," exhibited a similar disdain for excess — begins at a dawdle and ends at full gallop.

The New York Times

We slowed to a dawdle, rippling sand with our toes, grains of gold through our fingers, on our skin, in our hair, without words to say why, or who, or where.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

1.46pm The breakaway's advantage over a dawdling peloton has now topped 10 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

The result is a dawdling indie drama, gussied up in superhero garb.

The Guardian - Film

Ramires's early header, thumped down and through Simon Mignolet as he burst beyond a dawdling Alberto Moreno, was a false dawn.

The Guardian - Sport

1.52pm GMT 51 min: Hazard rips possession from a dawdling Tiote in the centre of the park.

The Guardian - Sport

"The Paranoids," directed by Gabriel Medina from a screenplay by Mr. Medina and Nicolas Gueilburt, plays like a dawdling sitcom that strings together small incidents into not very much.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a dawdle" to describe situations where deliberate slowness or a lack of urgency is evident, particularly when this contrasts with an expected or desired pace. This can add a subtle layer of critique or humor to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a dawdle" when you mean someone is actively and thoughtfully engaging with something, even if they are doing so at a slower pace. "A dawdle" implies a lack of focus or purpose, not mindful deliberation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a dawdle" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It often serves as a subject complement or object of a preposition, describing something that lacks urgency or progresses slowly. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

30%

Film

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a dawdle" functions as a noun phrase used to describe a slow, aimless or leisurely pace. It's generally used in neutral contexts, most frequently in news and media, sports, and film, as confirmed by Ludwig. The phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for various writing styles, though alternatives such as "a leisurely pace" or "a slow tempo" may be more appropriate depending on the specific context. Be mindful to distinguish deliberate engagement from unproductive slowness, and you'll use "a dawdle" effectively. Ludwig AI ensures that the phrase is correct and usable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a leisurely pace

Emphasizes the relaxed and unhurried nature, implying a lack of urgency.

a slow tempo

Focuses on the reduced speed or rate of progress.

a lackadaisical approach

Highlights a careless and unenthusiastic manner of proceeding.

a snail's pace

Uses a metaphor to vividly illustrate extreme slowness.

a crawling speed

Implies a very slow movement, almost to a standstill.

a meandering course

Suggests a wandering and indirect route, lacking directness.

a sluggish progress

Focuses on the slow and labored advancement or development.

a procrastinating manner

Indicates a tendency to postpone or delay tasks.

a dilatory fashion

Highlights a tendency to cause delay or be slow.

a creeping rate

Emphasizes the almost imperceptible advancement or progression.

FAQs

How can I use "a dawdle" in a sentence?

You can use "a dawdle" to describe something progressing slowly or aimlessly. For example, "The film's long backstory felt more like "a dawdle" than a buildup of tension."

What are some alternatives to the phrase "a dawdle"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "a leisurely pace", "a slow tempo", or "a lackadaisical approach" as alternatives to "a dawdle".

Is it grammatically correct to say "a dawdle"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Dawdle" functions as a noun in this context, and the article "a" is used correctly to indicate a single instance of dawdling or slow progress.

What is the difference between "a dawdle" and "dawdling"?

"A dawdle" is a noun phrase referring to an instance of slow, aimless progress. "Dawdling" is a gerund or participle, used as a verb or adjective to describe the act of moving or progressing slowly. For example, "He was "dawdling"," versus "It was "a dawdle" to the finish line".