Lollygag
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Dawdle, loiter, or waste time when something should be done. Current, informal, and often humorous Regional use: United States.
Origin
An Americanism appearing in the mid-19th century, often first spelled lallygag. Early uses cover nonsense, idling, and amorous fooling around, with both the dawdling and courting senses present by the 1860s. Its deeper formation is uncertain: loll may suggest idleness or the tongue, while gag may relate to the mouth or foolery, but no single derivation is demonstrated.
Variants
- lallygag
- lolly-gag
- lally-gag
Usage Examples
- Stop lollygagging by the gate or we will miss the last bus.
- The foreman tolerated jokes but not an afternoon of lallygagging.
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