Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'dally'

English Word: dally

Key Russian Translations:

• Затягивать (zətʲɪˈɡʲivətʲ) - [Informal, used for wasting time or delaying]
• Медлить (mʲɪdʲˈlʲitʲ) - [Formal, implies slow or hesitant action]
• Флиртовать (flʲɪrˈtəvətʲ) - [Informal, specifically for flirting idly]

Frequency: Low (not commonly used in everyday conversation; more literary or specific contexts)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; requires understanding of verb conjugations and contextual nuances)

Pronunciation (Russian):

Затягивать: /zətʲɪˈɡʲivətʲ/

Медлить: /mʲɪdʲˈlʲitʲ/

Флиртовать: /flʲɪrˈtəvətʲ/

Note on Затягивать: The stress falls on the third syllable; be careful with the soft sign (ʲ) which affects pronunciation.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: To waste time or act slowly (general sense)

Translation(s) & Context:

• Затягивать - Used in informal contexts when someone is procrastinating or delaying unnecessarily.
• Медлить - Applied in formal or descriptive contexts, such as in literature or professional settings.

Usage Examples:

• Он всегда затягивает с работой, из-за чего deadlines пропускает.

  He always dallies with his work, which causes him to miss deadlines.

• Не медли, иначе мы опоздаем на встречу!

  Don't dally, or we'll be late for the meeting!

• В молодости люди часто затягивают принятие важных решений.

  In youth, people often dally in making important decisions.

• Она медлила у двери, не решаясь войти.

  She dallied at the door, hesitant to enter.

Meaning 2: To flirt idly or playfully

Translation(s) & Context:

• Флиртовать - Common in casual, social contexts, often with a light-hearted connotation.

Usage Examples:

• На вечеринке он флиртовал с несколькими девушками, но ни с кем не завязал отношения.

  At the party, he dallied with several girls but didn't start a relationship with anyone.

• Она любит флиртовать, чтобы поднять себе настроение.

  She likes to dally (flirt) to lift her spirits.

• Флиртовать на работе – это рискованно, но некоторые не могут удержаться.

  Dallying (flirting) at work is risky, but some people can't resist.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

All key translations are verbs, which in Russian undergo conjugation based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Затягивать and Флиртовать are imperfective verbs, while Медлить can be used in various forms.

For Затягивать (imperfective):

For Медлить and Флиртовать, similar conjugation patterns apply, but they are less irregular.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • Задерживаться (to linger) - Similar to затягивать, but often spatial.
  • Тянуть (to drag out) - Informal synonym for wasting time.
  • Кокетничать (to coquettish) - For flirting, as an alternative to флиртовать.
• Antonyms:
  • Спешить (to hurry)
  • Действовать быстро (to act quickly)

Related Phrases:

• Затягивать время - To drag out time; used when someone is stalling deliberately.
• Флиртовать глазами - To flirt with one's eyes; a playful way of engaging in light flirtation.
• Медлить с ответом - To delay in responding; common in communication contexts.

Usage Notes:

"Dally" often corresponds to затягивать in contexts of procrastination, but choose флиртовать for romantic or playful flirting. Be mindful of the aspect in Russian verbs; затягивать is imperfective, implying ongoing action, which aligns well with the leisurely nature of "dallying." In formal writing, медлить might be preferred over informal options. Avoid direct word-for-word translation; consider the context to select the appropriate Russian equivalent.

Common Errors:

• Confusing verb aspects: Learners might use the perfective form like "затянуть" incorrectly for ongoing dallying. Correct: Use затягивать for continuous action. Error example: "Я затянул работу" (implies completion), but better: "Я затягиваю работу" for ongoing delay.

• Mixing with similar verbs: Mistaking затягивать for задерживать (to detain). Error: "Он затягивает меня" (wrong for physical detaining); Correct: "Он задерживает меня."

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, concepts like затягивать can reflect a broader attitude toward time, where "dallying" might be seen as inefficient in professional settings, influenced by historical emphasis on productivity in Soviet times. Flirting (флиртовать) is often more direct and less taboo than in some Western cultures, making it a common social interaction.

Related Concepts:

• Прокрастинация (procrastination)
• Кокетство (coquetry)
• Бездействие (inaction)