shilly-shally

USAGE SUMMARY

"shilly-shally" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe indecisiveness or hesitation in making a decision. Example: "Stop shilly-shallying and make a choice already." Alternative expressions include "dither," "waffle," and "hesitate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Don't shilly-shally!

The New Yorker

He did not shilly-shally in welcoming the crowd.

The New York Times

It doesn't shilly-shally around but says, 'I'm God, here I am.' " .

The New Yorker

And the main characters of these books don't have time to shilly-shally about that.

The New York Times - Books

And when we found out I was going to have another baby, I thought, Right, I can't shilly-shally any more.

The Guardian - Books

The West Bank pimpernel pops up Shilly-shally Reconciliation is as elusive as ever A peace plan under threat Getting horny ReprintsYet poaching and illegal trading are rife in Zimbabwe and Congo.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The four-song encore - "Home Again", "Down the Line", "Blue Boy" and "Don't Shilly Shally" - are greeted with enormous warmth, and, at the finale, Collins triumphantly holds his cane aloft like He-Man.

Independent

When Congress refused to take action, Olmsted wrote to Henry Bellows, the president of the Sanitary Commission, "I hope the time-serving, shilly shally, disjointed, incoherent, lazy, cowardly disposition which prevails in Washington, will not fail to be denounced, and the urgency of immediate, comprehensive governmental action in the premises, will be insisted on".

The New York Times

Don't Shilly Shally runs the title of the song the Edinburgh-born ex-Orange Juice singer will eventually close with tonight, rising from his stool and exiting with an unbowed wave of his walking stick as the band play out – an appropriate sign-off for a man evidently in no mood to mess about.

The Guardian - Music

And no shilly-shallying.

The New Yorker

There is no shilly-shallying here.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the hyphenated form "shilly-shallying" as a verbal noun to describe an ongoing state of bureaucratic or political delay.

Common error

Avoid using "shilly-shally" in strictly technical, scientific or legal documents where more precise and objective terms like "vacillate" or "indecisive" are preferred. The term carries a slight informal or judgmental connotation that may undermine professional objectivity.

Linguistic Context

As a reduplicative verb, "shilly-shally" functions primarily as an intransitive verb meaning to show hesitation. According to Ludwig, it can also function as an adjective or a noun (shilly-shallying). Its structure stems from the phrase "shall I, shall I?", reflecting internal conflict.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Reference

5%

Informal

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Academic

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "shilly-shally" is a robust and expressive term used to describe procrastination and vacillation. Ludwig's data demonstrates that it is a favorite among high-tier journalists to criticize political or personal indecisiveness. While it sounds lighthearted due to its reduplicative nature, its placement in elite sources like The Economist and The New Yorker confirms its status as a sophisticated linguistic tool. When writing, remember that it works best when you want to highlight the frustration of a delay, but you should pivot to "vacillate" for purely technical or neutral reporting. Ludwig AI confirms that the hyphenated form is the gold standard for correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dither

implies a more nervous or agitated state of indecision

vacillate

provides a more formal and clinical description of swinging between options

waver

focuses on the loss of resolve or physical-like oscillation in opinion

waffle

specifically emphasizes talking or writing at length without making a point

hem and haw

idiom focusing on the verbal hesitation and stalling sounds one makes

pussyfoot

suggests a cautious or timid avoidance of a direct commitment

hesitate

more neutral and broadly applicable to any brief delay in action

beat around the bush

idiom that describes avoiding the main topic rather than just indecision

equivocate

formal term for using ambiguous language to avoid committing to a side

procrastinate

focuses more on the delay of action than the mental state of indecision

FAQs

What is the meaning of "shilly-shally"?

To "shilly-shally" means to be indecisive, vacillate or waste time through hesitation. It is often used to describe someone who cannot make up their mind. You can use "dither" as a synonym in most cases.

How do you use "shilly-shally" in a sentence?

You can use it as a verb: "Stop trying to "shilly-shally" and give me a straight answer". Ludwig AI shows it is also common as a verbal noun, such as "There has been far too much "shilly-shallying" over this policy".

Is it "shilly shally" or "shilly-shally"?

The hyphenated form "shilly-shally" is the standard spelling in high-quality sources like The New York Times and The Economist. While some write it as two words, the hyphenated version is preferred for clarity.

What can I say instead of "shilly-shallying"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "vacillating", "hesitating" or "wavering".