Hum and haw Meaning in English
expression
ˈhəm/ /ˈænd/, /ənd/ /ˈhɔ
HUM-and-HAW
hˈʌm/ /ˈænd/ /hˈɔː
HUM-and-HAW
Definición
To hesitate, be indecisive, or delay giving an answer, often by making uncertain sounds or mumbling while thinking.
Uso & Matices
Very informal and often used to describe someone's uncertainty in conversation. Common with 'stop humming and hawing'. Can also be spelled 'hem and haw'. Not used in formal writing.
Spanish: dudar - vacilar - titubearPortuguese (BR): hesitar - enrolar - ficar indecisoPortuguese (PT): hesitar - enrolar - ficar indecisoChinese (Simplified): 犹豫不决 - 吞吞吐吐Chinese (Traditional): 猶豫不決 - 吞吞吐吐Hindi: हिचकिचाना - टालमटोल करनाArabic: يتردد - يتلعثمBengali: দিকে দিকে তাকানো এবং গড়িমসি করা - দ্বিধা করাRussian: мяться - колебатьсяJapanese: もじもじする - ためらうVietnamese: ngập ngừng - lưỡng lựKorean: 머뭇거리다 - 망설이다Turkish: oyalanmak - kararsız kalmakUrdu: ہچکچانا - گومگو کرناIndonesian: bingung-bingung - ragu-ragu
Oraciones de Ejemplo
Whenever I ask him a question, he just hums and haws.
basic
She hummed and hawed before choosing what to eat.
basic
Don't hum and haw—just make a decision!
basic
He hummed and hawed for ages before finally agreeing to go.
natural
Whenever there's a tough choice, she starts to hum and haw and can't decide.
natural
Stop humming and hawing—we don't have all day!
natural