hem and haw

Idioms  

1. Be hesitant and indecisive; avoid committing oneself, as in When asked about their wedding date, she hemmed and hawed, or The President hemmed and hawed about new Cabinet appointments. This expression imitates the sounds of clearing one's throat. [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

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

From Literature

Invariably, Mitchell said, “the guy would hem and haw,” then opt for treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

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

Because as much as we would like to hem and haw around it, women are the primary customer base for these seltzers.

From Seattle Times

“This play is important for Seattle because of the passive-aggressive nature of the city, and the way that people here hem and haw instead of stepping into issues,” said director Jay O’Leary.

From Seattle Times