dally

[dal-ee] /ˈdæl i/
verb (used without object), dallied, dallying.
1.
to waste time; loiter; delay.
2.
to act playfully, especially in an amorous or flirtatious way.
3.
to play mockingly; trifle:
to dally with danger.
verb (used with object), dallied, dallying.
4.
to waste (time) (usually followed by away).
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English dalien < Anglo-French dalier to chat, of uncertain origin
Related forms
dallier, noun
dallyingly, adverb
undallying, adjective
Synonyms
1. See loiter. 2. flirt, tease, trifle. 3. toy.
Examples from the web for dally
  • We didn't have time to dally around the submarine diorama.
British Dictionary definitions for dally

dally

/ˈdælɪ/
verb (intransitive) -lies, -lying, -lied
1.
to waste time idly; dawdle
2.
(usually foll by with) to deal frivolously or lightly with; trifle; toy: to dally with someone's affections
Derived Forms
dallier, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Anglo-French dalier to gossip, of uncertain origin
Word Origin and History for dally
v.

c.1300, "to talk, converse," possibly from Anglo-French dalier "to amuse oneself," of uncertain origin. Sense of "waste time" emerged by late 14c. Related: Dallied; dallying.

Slang definitions & phrases for dally

dally

Related Terms

dilly-dally