No Dilly-Dallying: Funny (But Useful) English Word Pairs
English has plenty of expressions that cannot be understood just from looking at the words. Some of them have a strange pattern of words that sound similar or perhaps even rhyme.
For example, have you ever heard business people talk about the "nitty-gritty," or hear someone being accused of "dilly-dallying"?
These word pairs are called "reduplicatives," and even though they sound a little silly, they are common in both casual and formal situations. That means they are important for learners to know, so let’s take a closer look at a few to understand their meanings.
Wishy-washy
“Wash” probably makes you think of water. Although a large amount of water can be strong and heavy, small amounts are thin and weak.
This feeling of weakness is the nuance in the expression "wishy-washy." We use it to refer to someone or something that lacks boldness, strength or determination.
Kate can never seem to make a decision about her career. If she wants to be successful, she needs to stop being so wishy-washy.
I've been wishy-washy with my language study until now, but this year I've decided to take it more seriously.
Nitty-gritty
“Nitty-gritty” can be either a noun or an adjective, depending on the context. In either case, it refers to the most basic and important points of a situation.
“Grit” is a small piece of something like sand or stone, and it is often what remains when heavy objects have been moved. In this sense, “nitty-gritty” can refer to the foundation or the basics of something.
We hired a consultant to help us deal with the nitty-gritty of starting a business.
As a noun, it’s often used together with “get down to.”
We don’t have time to waste, so let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of the problem.
Dilly-dally
This expression is a verb that means to waste time by doing unimportant things. It comes from the verb "dally," which means to act or move slowly.
We can't afford to dilly-dally with the deadline so close.
He's so lazy; all he does is dilly-dally and watch YouTube all day.
Willy-nilly
This rhyming expression is an adverb. It has a negative nuance and refers to doing something in a way that is not focused or controlled.
Instead of reaching potential customers willy-nilly, we need to develop a clear marketing strategy.
I don't like to share personal information online willy-nilly.
Willy-nilly also has an additional meaning, which is to do something because you have no choice.
They were forced willy-nilly to accept the terms of the agreement.
Flip-flop
You might already know about one kind of flip-flop — the inexpensive sandals that people often wear to the beach. The “flip-flop” we're covering here, however, is much different.
Actually, it's simply a verb that expresses the same idea as wishy-washy (which is an adjective).
“Flip-flopping” is deciding on one choice, then changing your mind and deciding on another, sometimes several times in a row.
Stop flip-flopping and make a decision; are you coming to the event or not?
The politician was accused of flip-flopping on major issues.
Shilly-shally
This has the same meaning and basic use as flip-flop. It comes from the old expression “shill I, shall I,” which is another way of saying, “will I or won’t I?”
We wasted so much time shilly-shallying that the tickets were sold out by the time we decided to go.
The woman ordering her meal shilly-shallied without noticing the line of annoyed customers behind her.
Teeter-totter
"Teeter-totter" is another name for a see-saw, a long board supported in the middle with a seat on either side. This allows two children to take turns moving up and down.
Used figuratively, it can refer to feelings or factors that change over time.
Many of the celebrity’s fans teeter-tottered on whether or not to support her through the scandal.
Investors were stressed by the stock prices that teeter-tottered all week.
Hem and haw
This expression is used very similarly to dilly-dally, and refers to delaying important actions or decisions.
Lots of other people are interested in the house, so we shouldn't hem and haw if we want to buy it ourselves.
Noah is not the kind of person who hems and haws; he can make bold decisions very quickly.
Wrap-up
You are unlikely to find any of the terms introduced here in a textbook or learn them in a standard English lesson at school. However, that is exactly why using them skillfully can make your English sound more natural and like a native speaker.
So don't shilly-shally; make sure to memorize these words and use them the next time you get a chance!
