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Quit That Lollygaggin’

In Appalachian and Southern talk, "quit that lollygaggin’" (sometimes written "quit that lollygagging") means stop wasting time, dawdling, or fooling around. It’s a colorful scolding phrase aimed at anyone dragging their feet instead of working.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #FarmTalk   #MoneyWorkandChores   #ScoldingandTeasing

Hillbilly Dude Says...
If I was takin' my time when I shouldn't be, Mom would say 'quit that lollygaggin' - and I say the same in my family. 

Pronunciation

[kwit yur LAH-lee-gag-in]

Meaning & Usage

- Stop wasting time (verb phrase)

Mae:
We’re gonna be late if you don’t quit your lollygaggin’!
Earl:
Awright, I’m comin’, hold your horses.

- Stop fooling around (verb phrase)

Ruby:
Y’all quit your lollygaggin’ and stack that wood.
Estel:
We was just talkin’, but fine.
variations: quit lollygaggin’, quit your lollygaggin’
★ "Lollygaggin’" always carries a scolding edge. It’s playful enough for kids, but sharp enough for grown folks who are wasting time. ★

Origin

First recorded in the mid-1800s in American English, "lollygag" meant to dawdle or fool around. Its exact roots are uncertain, but it quickly became a favorite in Southern and Appalachian talk, especially in the form of a parental or boss’s rebuke.

Notes

You’ll hear "quit your lollygaggin’" most often from parents, grandparents, or supervisors. It’s still used widely across the South, Appalachia, and rural America - sometimes with a grin, sometimes with a sting.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it snappy: "LAH-lee-gag-in." The final "g" drops off, and it rolls together quick, like a word meant to jolt somebody back into action.

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Does "lollygaggin’" always mean wasting time?
Mostly, yes. It can also mean goofing off or being unserious.
Where is it most common?
Across the South and Appalachia, but also in broader American English since the 1800s.
Is it still used today?
Yes, though often in a playful or old-fashioned way.
What’s the difference between "lollygaggin’" and "dilly-dallyin’"?
They’re nearly the same - both mean dawdling - but "lollygaggin’" often sounds more scolding.
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