noun
dilly
DIH-lee
Dilly (noun) means someone or something remarkably good, bad, or unusual — often used a little sarcastically. Example: “That last excuse of his was a real dilly.”
noun
1
Someone or something remarkably good, bad, or unusual — often used a little sarcastically.
"That last excuse of his was a real dilly."
"The storm turned out to be a dilly, flooding half the town."
adjective
1
Silly or a bit foolish.
"He gets dilly after just one beer."
How to use dilly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOld-fashioned slang for something striking or remarkable (can be good or bad), or for someone acting a bit silly.
When to use it
Dated, informal slang — mostly heard in older or folksy speech today.
Common pairings
a real dilly
quite a dilly
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Word forms
- Plural
- dillies
- Comparative
- more dilly, dillier
- Superlative
- most dilly, dilliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
That last excuse of his was a real _____.
Etymology
Probably from "dill" (as in "dilly-dally," to dawdle) plus the adjective/diminutive ending -y, though its exact origin as slang for "remarkable" is uncertain.
Rhymes for dilly
See all rhymes for dilly →Frequently asked questions
What does “dilly” mean?
The word “dilly” means someone or something remarkably good, bad, or unusual — often used a little sarcastically. In plain terms, old-fashioned slang for something striking or remarkable (can be good or bad), or for someone acting a bit silly.
How do you pronounce “dilly”?
“Dilly” is pronounced DIH-lee (/ˈdɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “dilly” in a sentence?
Here is “dilly” used in a sentence: “That last excuse of his was a real dilly.”
What part of speech is “dilly”?
Depending on how it is used, “dilly” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “dilly” have?
“Dilly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone or something remarkably good, bad, or unusual — often used a little sarcastically.
