hem and haw
To mumble and procrastinate in one's speech, especially with a reply to a hard question or with voicing a decision on a topical matter; to evade a question, giving vague answers; to equivocate or temp
Definitions
To mumble and procrastinate in one's speech, especially with a reply to a hard question or with voicing a decision on a topical matter; to evade a question, giving vague answers; to equivocate or temporize.
Comments
(idiomatic, US) To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.
If you hem and haw long enough, someone else will do it first.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
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Semantically related
- 85%
(British, idiomatic) To procrastinate; to take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
- 65%
(UK, dialect) To stammer; to speak unintelligibly; to prevaricate.
- 63%
(intransitive) To speak or act in a manner that is intentionally ambiguous or evasive; equivocate.
- 62%
(slang, US, southeast) get along.