Break from the Grind January 5, 2015
TRIVIAL PURSUITS: From what did the phrase willy-nilly originate?
Reported by PLANSPONSOR staff
From what did the phrase originate?
Answer: As far back as 1608, people would say “Will I, Nill I?” when they couldn’t make up their minds, or “Will ye, Nill ye?” when unsure of someone’s decision. These morphed into willy-nilly.