"hem and haw" in Chinese (Traditional)

• 支支吾吾
• 吞吞吐吐

Definition

說話吞吞吐吐、猶豫不決，通常因為不確定、尷尬或想回避直接回答。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Traditional))

為口語表達，描述說話支支吾吾、閃爍其詞，不適合正式場合。類似於“beat around the bush”，但著重於猶豫與語塞。

Examples

Whenever I ask him about his job, he hems and haws.

每次我問他工作，他都**支支吾吾的**。

Please answer directly, don’t hem and haw.

請直接回答，別**支支吾吾**。

He tends to hem and haw when making decisions.

他做決定時常常會**吞吞吐吐**。

I knew he was going to say no when he started to hem and haw.

他一開始**支支吾吾**，我就知道他要拒絕了。

Stop hemming and hawing—just tell me what you really think!

別再**吞吞吐吐**了，直接告訴我你的想法！

She hemmed and hawed for ages before finally agreeing.

她**支支吾吾**了很久才終於同意。