25 Silly English Words: English Words That Sound Silly

Silly English Words: There are a group of fun words that we use on a regular basis, and technically. They’re called reduplication words. But people refer to them as flip-flop words. Flip-flop is one of those words. These are not my flip-flops, by the way. In this lesson, you will be learning 25 flip-flop words with meanings and example sentences.

25 Silly English Words

Argy-bargy
Chit-chat
Criss-cross
Dilly-dally
Fuddy-duddy
Hanky-panky
Heebie-jeebies
Hocus-pocus
Hodge-podge
Holy moly
Hurly-burly
Mumbo-jumbo
Namby-pamby
Nitty-gritty
Okey-dokey
Razzle-dazzle
Roly-poly
Shilly-shally
Silly Billy
Super-duper
Teeny-weeny
Tip-top
Topsy-turvy
Willy-nilly
Wishy-washy

1. Argy-bargy

Argy-bargy is basically noisy quarreling, so it means someone’s having a fight or there are arguments going on, perhaps in the street or in the neighbor’s house.

Example:

Oh, I heard the neighbors having an argy-bargy last night.

2. Chit-chat

Chit-chat is basically inconsequential conversation, so unimportant conversation. We often shorten this to chat, but the fun version, the flip-flop version, is chit-chat.

Example:

We were having a little chit-chat.

3. Criss-cross

A criss-cross is two intersecting lines, basically a cross.

Example:

So I could say to you, “Could you please draw a criss-cross on my page?” (I’m just asking for a cross.)

4. Dilly-dally

If you dilly-dally, it means that you waste time with aimless wandering or with indecision. You’re just doing nothing. You’re dilly-dallying, not achieving anything.

Example:

Don’t dilly-dally!

5. Fuddy-duddy

A fuddy-duddy is a very old-fashioned person, a pompous person, someone who is not very modern or fun.

Example:

Don’t be a fuddy-duddy.

6. Hanky-panky

Hanky-panky describes inappropriate or sexual behavior. A little bit of hanky-panky. However, it’s used in a very light-hearted and fun way. [silly english words]

Example:

There was a little hanky-panky going on with you two last night, hmm?

7. Heebie-jeebies

The heebie-jeebies is a state of anxious fear or nervousness. If something makes you nervous or anxious, then you have the heebie-jeebies.

Example:

It gives you the heebie-jeebies.

8. Hocus-pocus

Hocus-pocus refers to talk which is designed to trick you or to conceal the truth.

Example:

Oh, I don’t believe all your hocus-pocus. It’s designed to trick me, I know.

9. Hodge-podge

A hodge-podge is a confused mixture.

Example:

Tonight’s dinner will be a hodge-podge.

10. Holy moly

Holy moly is basically an expression of surprise or shock. “Holy moly!” is like saying “good grief” or “goodness me.”

Example:

Holy moly, I don’t believe it!

Students Also Read: 28 Great Phrases for Small Talk

11. Hurly-burly

Hurly-burly means busy and boisterous activity.

Example:

I love the hurly-burly of city life.

12. Mumbo-jumbo

Mumbo-jumbo is language or ritual which is intended to cause confusion or bewilderment. [silly english words] So if someone is talking about something that you don’t believe, you think they’re trying to confuse you or bewilder you, then you could refer to it as mumbo-jumbo.

Example:

Oh, I don’t believe all your mumbo-jumbo. Keep it to yourself. Let me follow my own beliefs.

13. Namby-pamby

Namby-pamby means weak and ineffective.

Example:

So I could say to you, “I’m very sick. I don’t want to take your namby-pamby medicine. I want to see a real doctor.

14. Nitty-gritty

Nitty-gritty means the most important aspects of a subject or situation.

Example:

So, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of today’s meeting, shall we?

15. Okey-dokey

This one is very simply a fun way of saying okay, alright, yes.

Example:

Okey-dokey! Would you like to come to dinner?

16. Razzle-dazzle

Razzle-dazzle means noisy, showy, designed to impress or to gain attention.

Example:

My dress is designed to razzle-dazzle you.

17. Roly-poly

Roly-poly has two meanings. If you’re referring to someone as roly-poly, then you’re calling them round and plump, so be careful with that one. Or you might be referring to a very English dessert, a pudding that we all enjoy called roly-poly pudding.

18. Shilly-shally

Shilly-shally is very similar to dilly-dally. It basically means to not be able to make a decision, to be ineffective.

Example:

You might shilly-shally around a decision, so you can’t come to a decision.

19. Silly Billy

If someone calls you a silly Billy, they’re basically saying you are a silly, foolish person. And it’s a very gentle way of describing someone.

Example:

So you might say to a child, “Oh, you silly Billy! Did you fall over?

20. Super-duper

If something is super-duper, that is basically wonderful, marvelous, fantastic.

Example:

Super-duper!

21. Teeny-weeny

Teeny-weeny means very small.

Example:

I will have some pudding, but only a teeny-weeny bit.

22. Tip-top

If something is tip-top, it means that it’s excellent, it’s the best, it’s wonderful.

Example:

I’m feeling tip-top today. I’m feeling excellent today.

23. Topsy-turvy

If something is topsy-turvy, then it’s in a state of confusion, it’s upside-down.

Example:

My life is topsy-turvy right now. I don’t know what I’m doing from day to day.

24. Willy-nilly

Willy-nilly means without direction or planning.

Example:

So if you wander off and you don’t know where you’re going and you haven’t planned, then I could say to you, “Don’t wander off willy-nilly, you might get lost.”

25. Wishy-washy

If something or someone is wishy-washy, it means that they are feeble or insipid in quality or character.

Example:

I’m so sorry, I’ve been so wishy-washy recently, but from now on, I’ll be there, and I’ll be decisive and I will be strong. No more wishy-washy.

Conclusion

Well, These were 25 silly English words with definitions and examples. I hope you found that helpful.

Students Also Read:

Relationship Vocabulary | English Vocabulary Lesson B2

Flirting Words in English: British English Slang
How to Break up Sentences: How to BREAK UP in English

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