where does the phrase "dilly-dally" come from?

where does the phrase "dilly-dally" come from?
by

1 Answer

Answer :

answer:Wow, it’s really interesting and very old. The first reference in the OED is from 1610: BABINGTON Comf. Notes, Gen. xxiv. 57 Such dilly dally is fitter for heathens that know not God, than for sober Christians. The word dally is from Middle English dalien, from Old French dalier, but I can’t find a record of who was the first person to say “dilly-dally” and make up that phrase. Presumably it was already a saying when Babington wrote it down in 1610.
by

Related questions

What is the meaning of 'Dilly dally' ?

Description : What is the meaning of 'Dilly dally' ?

Last Answer : Dilly dally' means - a waste of time.

Are you lolly gagging or dilly dallying?

Description : Are you lolly gagging or dilly dallying?

Last Answer : answer:Dillydallying. Usually. I seldom lolligag. I'm going to have to think on the archaic words bit. I have an idea that they are already part of my working vocabulary. What I'm ... : objurgatory calenture dubitative Haven't got around to looking them up yet, though. I've been dillydallying.

My name is Jeff. I changed my name to Joe. Then I changed my name to Dilly Bar. I then changed my name to Jimmy. I changed my name once again, it was John. What is my name? -Riddles

Description : My name is Jeff. I changed my name to Joe. Then I changed my name to Dilly Bar. I then changed my name to Jimmy. I changed my name once again, it was John. What is my name? -Riddles

Last Answer : Jeff, because at the top it says my name is Jeff, and my name WAS John. Which implies I changed it again.

where did the phrase "go south" or "went south" come from?

Description : where did the phrase "go south" or "went south" come from?

Last Answer : answer:In the northern-hemisphere chauvinist's view, south=down idiomatically. Couple that with a more is more culture, and you have the implication that any move in the downward direction equals ... If sundials were invented in the southern hemisphere, clockwise' would be the opposite way too!

What is the origin of the phrase "hundred-dollar word"?

Description : What is the origin of the phrase "hundred-dollar word"?

Last Answer : Welcome to Fluther. I have never heard the expression, hundred dollar word. I have heard people talk about million dollar words or million dollar vocabulary. Is that the kind of thing you have in mind?

When using the phrase "for f*cks sake," should "f*cks" have an apostrophe?

Description : When using the phrase "for f*cks sake," should "f*cks" have an apostrophe?

Last Answer : I’ll go with number 1, Alex unless you’re talking about more fucks than one. (Watch out, this Q may be modded for curse words in the OP.)

What does this phrase mean?

Description : What does this phrase mean?

Last Answer : answer:It’s an awkward way of saying that I jumped in and answered very quickly. More idiomatic would be, “Hardly had he asked a question when I answered.” “Hardly had he put up his umbrella when it began to rain hard.”

What is your "almost swear word/phrase"?

Description : What is your "almost swear word/phrase"?

Last Answer : I often say “Holy shiitake mushrooms!”

Can you make a direct definition for a word or phrase?

Description : Can you make a direct definition for a word or phrase?

Last Answer : Looney Tunes- Michelle Bachmann witch – Ann Coulter robot – Al Gore skeezy – Lindsay Lohan

What do you call a well-known phrase?

Description : What do you call a well-known phrase?

Last Answer : Trite? No. There’s a word for it. If I don’t think about it, perhaps it will pop up.

What does this phrase mean?

Description : What does this phrase mean?

Last Answer : This means that the conductors of the experiment had direct control over this factor of the experiment and could vary it in order to see how it affected outcomes. In this case, that variable was ... giving instructions, as opposed to phoning in instructions, was a factor in the subject's behavior.

Is this a phrase?

Description : Is this a phrase?

Last Answer : My guess would be it means, “Hurry up and buy your ticket, because this is going to be an exclusive event and only those who get their ticket early will be able to experience this interactive opportunity.”

Can you create some variations on the phrase "when pigs fly"?

Description : Can you create some variations on the phrase "when pigs fly"?

Last Answer : When fish ride bicycles.

What is the phrase I am looking for?

Description : What is the phrase I am looking for?

Last Answer : The golden one? something golden?

Have you ever invented a saying or catch phrase?

Description : Have you ever invented a saying or catch phrase?

Last Answer : Yes I was saying “You Putz”. Long before I ever heard it in movies or by anyone else.

What does the phrase: “eaten bread is soon forgotten” mean?

Description : What does the phrase: “eaten bread is soon forgotten” mean?

Last Answer : It means that “once it’s gone, it’s over”, i.e., after you’ve finished consuming something, it’s not what you’re thinking about any more. I’d have to have more specifics to see how it was applied in the situation you describe.

What is the most awkward word or phrase in the English language?

Description : What is the most awkward word or phrase in the English language?

Last Answer : banana hammock. I don’t care what you say, as soon as that phrase enters a conversation it becomes extraordinarily awkward….

What is the most beautiful word or phrase in the English language?

Description : What is the most beautiful word or phrase in the English language?

Last Answer : Salmonella.

What does the phrase 'Nothing succeeds like succes' mean ?

Description : What does the phrase 'Nothing succeeds like succes' mean ?

Last Answer : Nothing succeeds like success '

What does the phrase 'I can't help doing it' mean ?

Description : What does the phrase 'I can't help doing it' mean ?

Last Answer : The sentence 'I can't help doing it' means - I can't do it.

The phrase ‘Pollack’ used in the story reveals discrimination on the basis of (a) race (b) gender(c) religion (d) wealth

Description : The phrase ‘Pollack’ used in the story reveals discrimination on the basis of (a) race (b) gender(c) religion (d) wealth

Last Answer : (a) race

The phrase, ̳soaring gradually downwards and outwards‘ shows that the young seagull a) Failed to fly. b) Was successful in flying. c) Tried to fly but could not. d) Felt unhappy.

Description : The phrase, ̳soaring gradually downwards and outwards‘ shows that the young seagull a) Failed to fly. b) Was successful in flying. c) Tried to fly but could not. d) Felt unhappy.

Last Answer : b) Was successful in flying.

The phrase, ̳soaring gradually downwards and outwards‘ shows that the young seagulla) Failed to fly. b) Was successful in flying. c) Tried to fly but could not. d) Felt unhappy.

Description : The phrase, ̳soaring gradually downwards and outwards‘ shows that the young seagulla) Failed to fly. b) Was successful in flying. c) Tried to fly but could not. d) Felt unhappy.

Last Answer : b) Was successful in flying.

The chapter used the phrase ―soul filled with sadness‖. Which of the following expressions is TRUE with respect to the phrase? (a) Hailstorm destroyed the entire crop. (b) Very large hailstones began to fall. (c) The flowers were gone from the plants. (d) A plague of locusts destroyed Lencho‘s crops.

Description : The chapter used the phrase -soul filled with sadness . Which of the following expressions is TRUE with respect to the phrase? (a) Hailstorm destroyed the entire crop. (b) Very large hailstones began to ... c) The flowers were gone from the plants. (d) A plague of locusts destroyed Lencho s crops.

Last Answer : (a) Hailstorm destroyed the entire crop.

How does dally react when Johnny tells dally that hes going to turn himself in?

Description : How does dally react when Johnny tells dally that hes going to turn himself in?

Last Answer : Need answer

In what way did Johnny compare Dally to the southern genlelmen in Gone with the Wind?

Description : In what way did Johnny compare Dally to the southern genlelmen in Gone with the Wind?

Last Answer : Need answer

What does dally tell the boys about home What does he bring to help both boys?

Description : What does dally tell the boys about home What does he bring to help both boys?

Last Answer : Need answer

Why is it important to johnny that dally sees a sunset?

Description : Why is it important to johnny that dally sees a sunset?

Last Answer : So that the sun may be able to cool Dally down a bit and he maybe able to get over Jhonny's death

What seven things according to Ponyboy describe Dally Winston?

Description : What seven things according to Ponyboy describe Dally Winston?

Last Answer : He had an elfish face, with high cheekbones and apointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears like a lynx. His hair was almost white itwas so blond,

Why was dally response unusual for johnny?

Description : Why was dally response unusual for johnny?

Last Answer : Feel Free to Answer

How do pony boy and dally get to the hospital fast?

Description : How do pony boy and dally get to the hospital fast?

Last Answer : Feel Free to Answer

Why does darry and dally love fight explain?

Description : Why does darry and dally love fight explain?

Last Answer : Feel Free to Answer

What pain or injury do Pony-boy Dally and Johnny suffer as a result of the fire?

Description : What pain or injury do Pony-boy Dally and Johnny suffer as a result of the fire?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

What what advice does dally give to ponyboy on the way to the hospital?

Description : What what advice does dally give to ponyboy on the way to the hospital?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

What coused dally to stare at jhnny?

Description : What coused dally to stare at jhnny?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

Why did dally from the outsiders harass cherry and Marcia?

Description : Why did dally from the outsiders harass cherry and Marcia?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

What reason did pony boy give dally for not shooting the birds when he was hunting?

Description : What reason did pony boy give dally for not shooting the birds when he was hunting?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

In the outsiders why do you think johnny spoke up for dally?

Description : In the outsiders why do you think johnny spoke up for dally?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

When dally from The Outsiders brings each of the girls a soda what does Cherry do what does Marcia do?

Description : When dally from The Outsiders brings each of the girls a soda what does Cherry do what does Marcia do?

Last Answer : What is the answer ?

What does Dally give Johnny and ponyboy after killing Bob?

Description : What does Dally give Johnny and ponyboy after killing Bob?

Last Answer : Need answer

How are cherry's and Johnny's view of Dally similar?

Description : How are cherry's and Johnny's view of Dally similar?

Last Answer : they both think dally is a bit wild

Is Dally gay?

Description : Is Dally gay?

Last Answer : yes as he recieved oral sex off Noman

How did soda know dally could get the letter to pony?

Description : How did soda know dally could get the letter to pony?

Last Answer : i like your cut g

Where did & come in the alphabet?

Description : Where did & come in the alphabet?

Last Answer : Last. Even if not really a letter, it used to be added on after Z. It used to be called and per se and, meaning and', as such or by itself and (elided into ampersand ) and was made of the ... is Latin for and. You can still sort of see how & might look like a lowercase e + t. More here.

Is there such a word as gastrointestinology, and where did enterology come from?

Description : Is there such a word as gastrointestinology, and where did enterology come from?

Last Answer : Enterology is derived from the greek entero (intestine) and I believe logy is derived from logia, also a greek word meaning group/collection. So the word is gastroenterology, which is the study of the gastric system as a whole, including the intestines.

Where did the very British expression "Good show" come from?

Description : Where did the very British expression "Good show" come from?

Last Answer : Just did a bit of fast Googling but got no derivations. My guess is that it comes from horse racing, “Win, place or show.”

How come most Americans can talk like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Arnold can't talk like most Americans?

Description : How come most Americans can talk like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Arnold can't talk like most Americans?

Last Answer : I honestly think he makes his accent a lot thicker than it really is. It’s his trademark.

Where does the expression ''quit cold turkey'' come from?

Description : Where does the expression ''quit cold turkey'' come from?

Last Answer : There are several explanations of the phrase's origin: A narrowing of the meaning suddenly or without preparation, from cold turkey being a dish that requires little preparation; originally ... family dinners signaled the end of excessive alcohol intake. (Copy/pasted straight from Wikipedia).

English slang, Englishisms, phrases and idioms have been discussed here over and over since day one - nonetheless, come across any new (local, global) slang euphemism lately?

Description : English slang, Englishisms, phrases and idioms have been discussed here over and over since day one - nonetheless, come across any new (local, global) slang euphemism lately?

Last Answer : I’m so behind the times – I’ve just discovered ‘My bad’. Then I heard it on an old episode of Friends from about 10 years ago.

Have you ever come across something that the major English dictionaries disagree about?

Description : Have you ever come across something that the major English dictionaries disagree about?

Last Answer : answer:Oh, sure. I have a lot of dictionaries and consult them frequently. One reason I have so many is that the first one I check may not agree with me. (joke) My main references are ... all dictionaries-and that it is possible to form legitimate English words that will not be in any dictionary.