lollygag
verb
James RobisonNeal PollackThe Hightower Lowdown
Did you know?
Lollygag (sometimes spelled lallygag) has been used informally to talk about acts of wasting time since at least the mid-19th century. Some might relate to this 1856 quote from The North Californian: “Oh ye denizens of cooler climes, how we do envy you in these days. Oh, for a lodge on some vast iceberg, or a chance to lallygag amid piles of snow!” In its earlier days, lollygag could also apply to displays of affection; 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 ... is a violation of naval discipline....” Nowadays, lollygag doesn’t usually refer to flirting or cuddling—instead, it’s the “dawdle” meaning that gets the love.
Examples of lollygag in a Sentence
Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 21 Mar. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Lollygag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lollygag. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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