# stand shilly-shally

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stand-shilly-shally
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To hesitate, vacillate or procrastinate.

## Examples

- Stop standing shilly-shally and make a decision.
- We cannot afford to stand shilly-shally while our competitors move ahead with their new project.
- Rather than standing shilly-shally over the minor details of the contract, the board chose to approve the proposal immediately to avoid further delays.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.