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shilly-shally (v.)
"to vacillate, hesitate, act in an irresolute manner," 1782, from the adverbial expression to stand shilly-shally (1703), earlier shill I, shall I (1700), a fanciful reduplication of shall I? (compare wishy-washy, dilly-dally, etc.). From 1734 as an adjective, by 1755 as a colloquial noun, "indecision, foolish trifling." Related: Shilly-shallying (1816); shilly-shallier; shilly-shallyer.
updated on September 07, 2022
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