lollygag

verb

lol·ly·gag | \ ˈlä-lē-ˌgag

\

variants: or less commonly lallygag

lollygagged; lollygagging

Definition of lollygag

intransitive verb

: fool around sense 1, dawdle Stop lollygagging and get to work.

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about lollygag

Keep scrolling for more

Did You Know?

You certainly didn't want to be known as a lollygagger at the beginning of the 20th century. Back then, lollygag was slang for "fooling around" (sexually, that is). That sense of lollygag was in use as long ago as 1868, and it probably originated as an alteration of the older (and more dawdlingly innocent) lallygag. Nowadays, lollygag doesn't usually carry such naughty connotations, but back in 1946, one Navy captain considered lollygagging enough of a problem to issue this stern warning: "Lovemaking and lollygagging are hereby strictly forbidden.... The holding of hands, osculation and constant embracing of WAVES [Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service], corpsmen or civilians and sailors or any combination of male and female personnel is a violation of naval discipline...."

Examples of lollygag in a Sentence

He was kicked off the team for lollygagging during practice. Stop lollygagging around and get to work!

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about lollygag

Listen to Our Podcast about lollygag

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Dictionary Entries near lollygag

Statistics for lollygag

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for lollygag

The first known use of lollygag was in 1868

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for lollygag

lollygag

verb

English Language Learners Definition of lollygag

: to spend time doing things that are not useful or serious : to fool around and waste time

See the full definition for lollygag in the English Language Learners Dictionary

WORD OF THE DAY

nomothetic

involving abstract or general statements

Test Your Vocabulary

Liar, Liar Quiz

Someone who pretends to be sick in order to avoid work is a:

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games