hem and haw
To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.
If you hem and haw long enough, someone else will do it first.
haw
/hɔː/
noun 5intj 3verb 3name 2
Collocations
4ADJ.
good
VERB + HAW
horse, pack, won't
HAW + NOUN
dog
ADV.
physically
Definitions
intj
1
An imitation of laughter, often used to express scorn or disbelief. Often doubled or tripled (haw haw or haw haw haw).
You think that song was good? Haw!
The bitter laugh laughs at that which is not good, it is the ethical laugh. The hollow laugh laughs at that which is not true, it is the intellectual laugh. Not good! Not true! Well well. But the mirthless laugh is the dianoetic laugh, down the snout — Haw! — so.
2
An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like "haw"; the sound so made.
Hums or haws.
verb
1
To stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.
noun
1
Fruit of the hawthorn.
2
A hedge.
3
Something that has little value or importance; a whit or jot.
wele not leaue a man of lawe, Nor a paper worth a hawe, And make him worſe than a dawe, That ſhall ſtand againſt Iacke Strawe.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegu
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
hum and haw
To procrastinate; to take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.
We hummed and hawed before finally deciding to buy this house.
Example Bank
601
You think that song was good? Haw!
Wiktionary02
The bitter laugh laughs at that which is not good, it is the ethical laugh. The hollow laugh laughs at that which is not true, it is the intellectual laugh. Not good! Not true! Well well. But the mirt
Wiktionary03
Hums or haws.
Wiktionary04
wele not leaue a man of lawe, Nor a paper worth a hawe, And make him worſe than a dawe, That ſhall ſtand againſt Iacke Strawe.
Wiktionary05
This horse won't haw when I tell him to.
Wiktionary06
You may have to go to the front of the pack and physically haw the lead dog.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, haw is marked as obsolete, historical. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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