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Verb: hem and haw (hemmed and hawed,hemming and hawing,hems and haws)
  1. Speak hesitantly, indecisively, or evasively; to avoid giving a direct answer or making a firm decision
    "He hemmed and hawed when asked to address the crowd"; "He hemmed and hawed when asked about his future plans";
    - hum and haw

Derived forms: hemmed and hawed, hemming and hawing, hems and haws

Type of: hesitate, pause

Encyclopedia: Hem and haw