跳转到内容

Dilly-dallying

“Dilly-dallying” 为口语化叠词,指因拖延、闲逛或优柔寡断而浪费时间,语气轻松,略带责备或调侃,如 stop dilly-dallying and get dressed(别磨蹭了,快穿好衣服)。

  1. “We can’t afford to keep dilly-dallying while the deadline approaches.” (截止日期临近,我们不能再拖拖拉拉了。)
  2. “The kids were dilly-dallying on the walk home from school.” (孩子们放学路上磨磨蹭蹭。)
  3. “Stop dilly-dallying and tell me what you decided.” (别犹豫了,告诉我你的决定。)

“Dilly-dally” 是 17 世纪英语中的冗余叠词(reduplication),“dally” 本身意为闲逛、调情、拖延,叠用后语气更俏皮、强调磨蹭。

复合动词 “dilly-dally” 加 “-ing” 表示正在磨蹭、浪费时间的状态;无复杂词缀,属口语构词。

英式与美式口语均常见;家长对孩子、上司对下属常说 stop dilly-dallying,比正式说法 procrastinating 更生活化、带一点幽默责备感。

  • 原形: dilly-dally
  • 同义口语: dawdle, procrastinate
  • 固定搭配: “stop dilly-dallying” (别磨蹭了), “no more dilly-dallying” (别再拖了)

叠词 “dilly-dally” 听起来就像脚步拖拖拉拉——dilly-dallying 就是磨磨蹭蹭不干活。

“Her mother called from the kitchen, tired of dilly-dallying at the mirror while the bus was almost due.” (母亲在厨房喊她,厌烦她对着镜子磨蹭,校车就快到了。)