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.
hem
/hɛm/
noun 4verb 4intj 1pron 1name 1
Collocations
5ADJ.
glad, higher, raw
VERB + HEM
cut, finishing, let, lets, makes, redo, said, sewing
HEM + NOUN
o', pants, sea, shirt, skirt, t-shirt, th', thy
PREP.
about, in, upon, with
ADV.
nervously
Definitions
intj
1
Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.
noun
1
An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.
his morning hems
verb
1
To make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking.
Hem, and stroke thy beard.
“Sit down,” said the young man, gruffly. “He’ll be in soon.” I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of owning my acquaintance.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
noun — the utterance of a sound similar to clearing the throat
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
touch the hem of someone's garment
To give respect or reverence to someone; to express servitude to someone; to draw strength or comfort from someone who is superior.
Thus, at peace with God and the world, the farmer of Grand-Pré Lived on his sunny farm, and Evangeline governed his household. Many a youth, as he knelt in the church and opened hi
Example Bank
601
his morning hems
Wiktionary02
Hem, and stroke thy beard.
Wiktionary03
“Sit down,” said the young man, gruffly. “He’ll be in soon.” I obeyed; and hemmed, and called the villain Juno, who deigned, at this second interview, to move the extreme tip of her tail, in token of
Wiktionary04
Entombed upon the very hem o' th' sea
Wiktionary05
A small yard hemmed about by a tall hedge.
Wiktionary06
He’s in the saddle now. Fall in! Steady, the whole brigade! Hill’s at the ford, cut off — we’ll win his way out, ball and blade! What matter if our shoes are worn? What matter if our feet are torn? “Q
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, hem is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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