adj. phr. (colloquial).—Shifty; irresolute; shilly-shally: orig. nautical.
1854. New York Herald, 15 June. There has been so much BACKING AND FILLING, that no confidence can be placed in the declaration which either General Pierce or his cabinet may make.
1859. SEBA SMITH (‘Major Downing’), My Thirty Years Out of the Senate, lxxix. 437. A BACKIN’ AND FILLIN’ and wrigglin’ policy never will fetch anything about.
