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Definitions

hem and haw

VERB
hesitate
Synonyms
WEAK
back and fill beat around the bush beg the question dance around equivocate euphemize fudge and mudge hum and haw mince words shilly-shally tapdance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Most real estate TV quests are partially faked; many times, the couples have already bought the home they pretend to hem and haw over before choosing it in the end.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2021

He’d rather hem and haw, leaving everybody in limbo, than deliver bad news.

From Washington Post • Nov. 29, 2017

Winners take bold actions, dominate others and impose their will on the world; losers hem and haw, dither and consult, exercise restraint.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2017

Amid all the door-knocking last weekend, most of what voters did was hem and haw.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2015

I was sure Miss Lacey was going to take it away, but she continued to hem and haw.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu