hum and haw

hum and haw
verb /ˌhʌm ənd ˈhɔː/
Procrastinate and take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.

We hummed and hawed before buying this house.


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  • hum and haw — ► hum and haw (or ha) Brit. be indecisive. Main Entry: ↑hum …   English terms dictionary

  • hum and haw — (Brit.) HESITATE, dither, vacillate, be indecisive, equivocate, prevaricate, waver, blow hot and cold; Brit. haver; Scottish swither; informal shilly shally. → hum * * * hum and haw or hum and ha …   Useful english dictionary

  • hum and haw — (or chiefly N. Amer. hem and haw) be indecisive. → hum …   English new terms dictionary

  • hum and haw — mainly British, American & Australian to take a long time to say something and speak in a way that is not clear, in order to avoid giving an answer. He hemmed and hawed and finally admitted taking the money …   New idioms dictionary

  • hum and haw — informal to delay or avoid talking about something …   English dictionary

  • hum and ha — hum and haw or hum and ha 1. To make inarticulate sounds when at a loss 2. To shilly shally • • • Main Entry: ↑hum …   Useful english dictionary

  • hum and ha — ► hum and haw (or ha) Brit. be indecisive. Main Entry: ↑hum …   English terms dictionary

  • hem and haw — verb utter hems and haws ; indicated hesitation He hemmed and hawed when asked to address the crowd • Hypernyms: ↑hesitate, ↑pause • Verb Frames: Somebody s They hem and haw a long time * * * …   Useful english dictionary

  • hem and haw — Synonyms and related words: about the bush, back and fill, back down, balance, beat around, beg the question, debate, deliberate, demur, dodge, duck, equivocate, evade, falter, fear, fence, halt, hang back, haw, hedge, hem, hesitate, hover, hum,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • hem and haw — chiefly N. Amer. another way of saying hum and haw (see hum1). → hem someone/thing in …   English new terms dictionary

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