hem and haw

phrase

chiefly US, informal

1

: to stop often and change what one is saying during speech because one is not sure of what to say or because one is trying to avoid saying something

The question surprised her and she hemmed and hawed a bit before answering.

2

: to take a long time before making a decision about what to do

The city council hemmed and hawed for a year before deciding to build the new school.

Examples of hem and haw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Disney president and chief creative officer Dana Walden hemmed and hawed about whether or not Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Alice hems and haws at what to wear to the party, while nervously wondering about reuniting with the Lady Greyhounds after Coach Lasso suspended her for an earlier outburst. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

The Florida Panthers’ veteran head coach usually hems and haws his way around immediate injury updates after a game. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026

To its credit, the rodeo didn’t hem and haw around debating optics. — Joy Sewing, Houston Chronicle, 20 Mar. 2026

Rhymes for hem and haw

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw