Library / English Dictionary

HEM AND HAW

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Utter 'hems' and 'haws'; indicated hesitation

Example:

He hemmed and hawed when asked to address the crowd

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "hem and haw" is one way to...):

hesitate; pause (interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sentence example:

They hem and haw a long time

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