lollygag

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 29, 2021 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>lollygag</strong> &#149; \LAH-lee-gag\&nbsp; &#149; <em>verb</em><br /> <p><em>Lollygag</em> means "to spend time doing things that are not useful."</p> <p>// Stop <em>lollygagging</em> and get to work!</p> <p>// The player was kicked off the team for <em>lollygagging</em> during practice.</p> <p><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lollygag">See the entry ></a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>"During Saturday's game, Sanchez <em>lollygagged</em> when a pitch in the dirt bounced a few feet to his right with Phillies speedy second baseman Jean Segura on first. Looking like he didn't have a care in the world, Sanchez leaned down slowly and tried to retrieve the ball with his mitt instead of his throwing hand…." — Randy Miller, <em>The Jersey Journal</em> (New Jersey), 15 June 2021</p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p>Since the 19th century, <em>lollygag</em> (sometimes also spelled <em><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lallygag">lallygag</a></em>) has been used as a slang word to describe acts of wasting time as well as displays of affection. Nowadays, <em>lollygag</em> doesn't usually refer to flirting or cuddling, 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, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/osculation">osculation</a> 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...."</p> <br /><br /> </p> </font>