dally
[verb]
Synonyms: trifle, coquet, flirt, fool, lead on, string along, toy, wanton, delay, dawdle, drag, lag, loiter, poke, procrastinate, put off, tarry, trail

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Antonyms: hasten
Contrasted words: fleet, rush, scurry, skedaddle
Related Words: frolic, gambol, play, rollick, romp, sport, caress, cosset, cuddle, dandle, fondle, pet

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

dal‧ly /ˈdæli/ verb (past tense and past participle dallied, present participle dallying, third person singular dallies) [intransitive]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Anglo-French; Origin: dalier]

1. to take too long to do something, especially to make a decision:
After months of dallying, the government has finally agreed to allow the plan to go ahead.

2. to spend some time in a place, on your way to somewhere else:
He dallied in the Lake District for a while, then crossed to Belgium.
dally with somebody/something phrasal verb

1. to do something or think about something, but not in a very serious way:
They’ve dallied with the idea of touring round the world.

2. old-fashioned to have a romantic relationship with someone, but not in a serious way

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲