Dally (Verb)
Meaning 1
Waste time; "Get busy--don't dally!".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- Don't let your children dally when it comes to completing their homework.
- If you want to meet the deadline, stop dallying around and start working on it.
- My sister tends to dally when making decisions, often resulting in missed opportunities.
- The instructor warned the students not to dally during the timed exam.
- Please refrain from dallying in the hallway and head straight to class.
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Meaning 2
Talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions; "The guys always try to chat up the new secretaries"; "My husband never flirts with other women".
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- She tends to dally with the idea of romance, but never commits to it.
- He's known for his charm, always ready to dally with a pretty face.
- Some men have the habit of dallying with multiple women at the same time.
- Her carefree attitude led her to dally with someone she barely knew.
- The notorious ladies' man was famous for dallying with models and actresses.
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Meaning 3
Behave carelessly or indifferently; "Play about with a young girl's affection".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- He was accused of dallying with his subordinates' feelings, and his behavior was deemed unprofessional.
- The celebrity dallying with the affections of multiple young admirers sparked controversy on social media.
- Her ex-boyfriend was known for dallying with her emotions, which led to their breakup.
- The boy was warned not to dally with his sister's best friend, as his intentions were not genuine.
- The play depicted a suave but unreliable character who would dally with any young woman he met.
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Meaning 4
Consider not very seriously; "He is trifling with her"; "She plays with the thought of moving to Tasmania".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- She's been dallying with the idea of quitting her job for months but hasn't made up her mind yet.
- He often dalled with the notion of starting his own business but never took any concrete steps.
- Some investors dally with the possibility of supporting the project but remain unconvinced by the team's presentation.
- After college, she dallied with the idea of traveling the world before settling into a stable career.
- He's been dallying with the notion of marrying her for years but keeps putting off the proposal.