ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hum and haw

idiom
Meaning

To procrastinate; to take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.


Examples
SIMPLE

Stop humming and hawing and just make a choice.

CONTEXTUAL

The committee spent hours humming and hawing over the budget instead of approving the project.

COMPLEX

Despite the urgency of the situation, the board continued to hum and haw, effectively stalling any meaningful progress until the deadline had passed.

Anchors to
Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    hem and haw

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

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