As a lot of this blog is about writing, I wanted to write a regular article on my favourite forgotten words. You know the type of thing, those poor lost words that sit at the back of our minds, gathering dust, having been discovered years ago in classics like Dickens, or Austen. They’re the spices of the literary world, but I refuse to let them be ignored until they go out of date! Let’s bring them back! Now!
So, this month’s word is: Lollygag
Lollygag
Spend time aimlessly; idle; dawdle.
The Oxford online dictionary defines lollygag as to dawdle or spend time aimlessly.
My favourite thing about lollygag or lollygagging is the way it rolls off the tongue. It’s one of those gentle words that flows nicely. Throw it into your writing and you suddenly have a fun word that adds a little something different to any sentence.
The best time I heard this word used was on Jillian Michael’s Body Revolution DVD. I’ll tell you now, I LOVE Jillian Michaels. She is my absolute favourite fitness personality. Anyway, I was sweating buckets, my heart felt like it was trying to climb out of my throat, and there she was shouting at me not to lollygag my punches, but to really it give it some welly (my word not hers). I think it was this moment that made me fall in love with Jillian and so began my mini obsession with her and her workouts!
I’ve never shouted at my children to stop lollygagging, though perhaps I should. It might teach them something and get them to hurry up on the way to school.
Have you ever used lollygag? Stop by and let me know what your favourite and forgotten words are!