harrumph

American  

[huh-ruhmf] / həˈrʌmf /

verb (used without object)

1. to clear the throat audibly in a self-important manner.

   The professor harrumphed good-naturedly.

2. to express oneself gruffly.

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harrumph British  

/ həˈrʌmf /

verb

1. (intr) to clear or make the noise of clearing the throat

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Etymology

Origin of harrumph

First recorded in 1935–40; imitative

Example Sentences

Cue another round of snobby harrumphing about the inclusion of non-Power 4 schools like James Madison and Tulane, as if those schools play on crabgrass fields with dirt patches and donkeys.

From The Wall Street Journal

At that point he simply harrumphed and said, “Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

From Literature

This echoes what most of the British press and that other American Meghan, she of House McCain, harrumphed about the supposed tone deafness of Season 1.

From Salon

"Trousers," exclaims the Prince Andrew character, with a fruity harrumph, as though taken aback by a female interviewer wearing trousers.

From BBC

In one telephone exchange, Kissinger harrumphs that if the coup had happened “in the Eisenhower period we would be heroes.”

From Seattle Times