IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishhem and haw
Meaning: To hesitate to say something directly.
Example: “The witness hemmed and hawed instead of answering the question.”
Origin: "Hem" and "haw" imitate the throat-clearing and hesitating noises people make when unsure what to say. The pairing is found from the 16th century; the British usually say "hum and haw."
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