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Where does hemming and hawing come from?
Related phrases are hems and haws, hemmed and hawed, hemming and hawing. The term hem and haw first appeared in the 1630s. The word hem is an imitative word of a throat clearing, and the word haw is related to the term haw-haw, which references a haughty British accent.
What does it mean hemming and hawing?
hum and haw To speak in an evasive, vague, roundabout way in order to avoid responding to a question or making a definite statement. The phrase comes from the common filler words often used by habit or when one is deciding what to say. Primarily heard in UK.
What does hawing mean?
An utterance used by a speaker who is fumbling for words. intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws. To fumble in speaking. [Imitative.]
What does humming and Harring mean?
UK (US hem and haw) to be uncertain and take a long time deciding something: We hummed and hawed for months before actually deciding to buy the house.
What does Umming and Ahing mean?
to be unable to decide what to do in a situation. Stop umming and ahing and just get on with it. Synonyms and related words. To be uncertain.
Who haw meaning?
Haw is defined as a sound made by a speaker who is fumbling for words, or refers to a red berry produced by a hawthorne. An utterance used by a speaker who is fumbling for words. noun. To fumble in speaking.
What does Haw mean in text?
interjection. Definition of haw (Entry 3 of 5) —often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking.
What does it mean hummed?
1 : to sing with the lips closed and without uttering speech sounds distinctly hum a tune. 2 : to express by making a vocal sound with the lips pressed together : to affect by humming hummed his displeasure.
What’s the meaning of shilly shally?
intransitive verb. 1 : to show hesitation or lack of decisiveness or resolution. 2 : dawdle. shilly-shally.
What does Hawking mean in slang?
1 : to raise by trying to clear the throat hawk up phlegm. 2 informal : to forcefully spit out (something, such as phlegm) : hock entry 5 hawk a loogie. intransitive verb. : to utter a harsh guttural sound in or as if in trying to clear the throat.
What does hum and haw mean?
or hem and haw. phrase. If you hem and haw, or in British English hum and haw, you take a long time to say something because you cannot think of the right words, or because you are not sure what to say. Tim hemmed and hawed, but finally told his boss the truth.
What is Uming and Aring?
To be hesitant or indecisive, especially when speaking out loud about a decision. “Um” and “ah” are common filler words used by habit or when one is deciding what to say.
What does hem and Haw mean?
hem and haw. Be hesitant and indecisive; avoid committing oneself, as in When asked about their wedding date, she hemmed and hawed, or The President hemmed and hawed about new Cabinet appointments. This expression imitates the sounds of clearing one’s throat. [Late 1700s] See also: and, haw, hem.
What is the meaning of Hemming stitch?
Hemstitch or hem-stitch is a decorative drawn thread work or openwork hand-sewing technique for embellishing the hem of clothing or household linens. Unlike an ordinary hem, hemstitching can employ embroidery thread in a contrasting color so as to be noticeable.
Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Hawking. Hawking is a feeding strategy in birds involving catching flying insects in the air. The term usually refers to a technique of sallying out from a perch to snatch an insect and then returning to the same or a different perch.