Wednesday, June 14, 2006

willy-nilly

Quick Definition: whether desired or not
willy-nilly (wĭl'ē-nĭl'ē) pronunciation
adv.
  1. Whether desired or not: After her boss fell sick, she willy-nilly found herself directing the project.
  2. Without order or plan; haphazardly.
adj.
  1. Being or occurring whether desired or not: willy-nilly cooperation.
  2. Disordered; haphazard: willy-nilly zoning laws.

[Alteration of will ye (or he), nill ye (or he), be you (or he) willing, be you (or he) unwilling.]





willy-nilly

adverb

    Without regard to desire or inclination: helplessly, involuntarily, perforce. See willing/unwilling.




Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The adverb willy-nilly has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: in a random manner
Synonyms: randomly, indiscriminately, haphazardly, arbitrarily, at random, every which way

Meaning #2: without having a choice




Translations for: Willy-nilly

Nederlands (Dutch)
goedschiks of kwaadschiks

Franais (French)
bon gr mal gr

Deutsch (German)
adv. - wohl oder bel, gezwungenermaen
adj. - unorganisiert, unordentlich, zgernd

ή (Greek)
adv. ώ-ά, έ , ό

Italiano (Italian)
di controvoglia

Portugus (Portuguese)
adv. - indeciso

Русский (Russian)
вынужденный, хочешь-не хочешь

Espaol (Spanish)
adv. - quiera o no quiera, de buen o mal grado, desorganizadamente
adj. - desorganizado, no planeado, vacilante

Svenska (Swedish)
adv. - antingen man vill eller inte

中国话 (Simplified Chinese)
adv. - 不管愿不愿意, 乱糟糟地
adj. - 不容分辨的, 犹豫不决的

中國話 (Traditional Chinese)
adv. - 不管願不願意, 亂糟糟地
adj. - 不容分辨的, 猶豫不決的

日本語 (Japanese)
adv. - いやでもおうでも
adj. - 優柔不断の

العربيه (Arabic)
(ظرف) طوعا أو كرها

עברית (Hebrew)‬
adv. - ‮ברצון או שלא ברצון, אם יחפוץ ואם לאו‬
adj. - ‮הססני, מחויב המציאות‬




Back to Top Best of the Web

Some good willy-nilly pages on the web:


Phrase
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Back to Top Mentioned In
willy-nilly is mentioned in the following topics:
Mark HadlowThis Rather Than That (1969 Album by Buddy Montgomery)
Travelling (1986 Album by Robert Balzar)Diplomaniacs (1933 Comedy Film)
Keresztuton (1987 Film)Rebecca's Secret (1997 Thriller Film)
Hand Clappin' Foot Stompin' Funky-Butt...Live! (1966 Album by Geno Washington)Foamy Wife Hum/Line (2003 Album by All Ears)
Great Basketball (Sega Master System Game)Photographic Smile (1976 Album by Mr. Big)
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