のらりくらり

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

idly; lazily; aimlessly

Describes doing nothing in particular, loafing around, or spending time without purpose. Often used with verbs like 過ごす or している.

• 休きゅう日じつはのらりくらりと過すごした。

  I spent the holiday idly.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

evasively; non-committally; vaguely

Used when someone avoids giving a clear answer, dodges a question, or speaks in a roundabout way. Often with verbs like 答える or かわす.

• 彼かれは質しつ問もんにのらりくらりと答こたえた。

  He answered the question evasively.

adverb, adverb taking the 'to' particle, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

soft and slippery

Only with reading ぬらりくらり

Rare, restricted to the reading ぬらりくらり. Describes a texture or movement that is slick and hard to grasp, like a slimy object.

• その生いき物ものはぬらりくらりと動うごいた。

  The creature moved in a soft and slippery manner.