hum and haw

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

You can’t constantly hum and haw your chances or you’ll just never get out of that paralysis.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2021

V. stammer, stutter, hesitate, falter, hammer; balbutiate†, balbucinate†, haw, hum and haw, be unable to put two words together. mumble, mutter; maud†, mauder†; whisper &c.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Ley began to hum and haw and look uncomfortable.

From Will Weatherhelm The Yarn of an Old Sailor by Webb, Archibald

"Oh, when a friend's at stake, I can't hum and haw," said Madeleine, who could never keep her temper with Dove for long.

From Maurice Guest by Richardson, Henry Handel

To hum and haw; to hesitate in speech, also to delay, or be with difficulty brought to consent to any matter or business, HUMS.

From 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Grose, Francis