British English Slang – Dilly-dally (or dilly dally).
What Does “Dilly-dally” Mean?
Meaning — to wander aimlessly, waste time, or be slow and indecisive about getting somewhere or doing something. If someone tells you to stop dilly-dallying, they mean: get a move on. Dilly-dally is old-fashioned British English slang, but it’s still used today — often to chivvy along a child, or a friend who’s taking forever to leave the house.
Where Does “Dilly-dally” Come From?
The word is first recorded in 1741 as a reduplication of the older verb dally (to waste time or linger), which itself dates back to around 1300 and comes from the Anglo-French dalier. It follows the same playful, rhyming pattern as words like “shilly-shally” and “hocus-pocus.” Read more at Etymonline.
The expression is perhaps most famous from a classic music hall song from 1919, My Old Man (Said Follow the Van), a huge UK hit for Marie Lloyd. The song is still well-known in Britain today, and local versions of it are still sung by football supporters on match days.
Here is a verse from the song, which features plenty of classic British slang:
‘My old man (husband) said “Foller (follow) the van,
And don’t dilly dally on the way”.
Off went the van wiv (with) me ‘ome (home) packed in it,
I followed on wiv me old cock linnet.
But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied.
Lost me way and don’t know where to roam.
Well you can’t trust a special (volunteer police officer) like the old time coppers (police officers).
When you can’t find your way ‘ome.’
Full lyrics to this song can be found here: My Old Man (Said Follow the Van) – Marie Lloyd
Example
“Jack, you’ll be late for school if you don’t get a move on! Don’t dilly-dally or you’ll miss your bus!”
“Stop dilly-dallying and get your coat on — we’re already late.”
Listen
What is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
To wander aimlessly, waste time, or be slow and indecisive about getting somewhere or doing something — basically, to dawdle.
Yes. It’s a bit old-fashioned in tone, but it’s still commonly heard and understood in British English, often said to children or used light-heartedly among adults.
It’s first recorded in 1741 as a reduplication of the older verb “dally” (to waste time or linger), which dates back to around 1300. The phrase is also strongly linked to the 1919 music hall song “My Old Man (Said Follow the Van),” made famous by Marie Lloyd, which includes the line “don’t dilly dally on the way.”
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