Last Updated：2025/11/20

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(idiomatic, US) To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.

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hem and haw

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Source Word

hem and haw

Verb

US idiomatic

(idiomatic, US) To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.

Japanese Meaning

ためらいながら話す、決断を先延ばしにする / 口ごもる、迷いながら話を進める / 躊躇して行動を起こさない

What is this buttons?

Instead of making a decision, the committee continued to hem and haw until the meeting ran out of time.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

決定を下す代わりに、委員会は会議の時間が尽きるまでぐずぐずしていた。

Details

Sense（1）

(idiomatic, US) 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.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

Details

Sense（2）

To mumble and procrastinate in one's speech, especially with a reply to a hard question or with voicing a decision on a topical matter; to evade a question, giving vague answers; to equivocate or temporize.

The man at the Chief Office hemmed and hawed. 'We make it a rule,' he explained, 'to give no information concerning our clients.' 'But in this case,' I urged, 'it is the client who requests you to give the information concerning himself.' Again he hemmed and hawed.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

Details

hems and haws

（ present singular third-person ）

hemming and hawing

（ participle present ）

hemmed and hawed

（ participle past ）

hemmed and hawed

（ past ）

Details

hem and haw

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