hem and haw

hem ¹  (hm)

n.

1. An edge or border on a piece of cloth, especially a finished edge, as for a garment or curtain, made by folding an edge under and stitching it down.

2. The height or level of the bottom edge of a skirt, dress, or coat; a hemline.

tr.v. hemmed, hem·ming, hems

1. To fold back and stitch down the edge of.

2. To surround and shut in; enclose: a valley hemmed in by mountains. See Synonyms at enclose.

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[Middle English, from Old English hem, hemm.]

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hemmer n.

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hem ²  (hm)

n.

A short cough or clearing of the throat made especially to gain attention, warn another, hide embarrassment, or fill a pause in speech.

intr.v. hemmed, hem·ming, hems

1. To utter a hem.

2. To hesitate in speech.

Idiom:

hem and haw

To be hesitant and indecisive; equivocate: "a leader who cannot make up his or her mind, never knows what to do, hems and haws" (Margaret Thatcher).

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[From Middle English heminge, coughing, of imitative origin.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

hem and haw - utter `hems' and `haws'; indicated hesitation; "He hemmed and hawed when asked to address the crowd" pause, hesitate - interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing; "The speaker paused"