hem 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. How much longer do we have to hear this guy hem and haw? I wish they would get on with the debate. Yeah, right! With the way Mom hemmed and hawed, she's definitely not gonna let you stay out past curfew. Hey, you can't hem and haw like that when you actually give your speech or no one will be able to follow it.
ho-hum
Dull or boring. I heard she got sick of her ho-hum existence and ran off to New York City. You actually liked that movie? It was so ho-hum, I almost fell asleep! When did my life become so ho-hum and repetitive? I'm boring myself, to be honest!
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. How much longer do we have to hear this guy hum and haw? I wish they would get on with the debate. Yeah, right! With the way Mom hummed and hawed, she's definitely not gonna let you stay out past curfew. Hey, you can't hum and haw like that when you actually give your speech or no one will be able to follow it.
hum job
vulgar slang An act of fellatio in which the person performing it also hums. Nope, our date ended right after the movie, so no hum job for me. College boys are such jerks. Even if you give them a hum job, they never call you again.
hum with activity
To be bustling or busy, as of a place or thing. On Fridays, the school only hums with activity until 3:00 PM—then, everyone rushes out to start their weekend. At the office, the water cooler always hums with activity. Unfortunately, the bar underneath our apartment hums with activity till midnight every night.
humdinger
slang Someone or something that is exceptional or remarkable. The origin of the word is unknown. Boy, was that a humdinger of a game—I can't believe the winning goal was scored in the last two seconds! Wow, your grandpa has a humdinger of an antique car! You've got a humdinger of a TV and sound system there. Can I come over and watch the big game on Sunday?
humdrum existence
cliché A life that is monotonous, dull, or lacking variety. The novel tells the story of a middle-aged woman who throws off the shackles of her humdrum existence and travels to Paris to fulfill her dream of being a jazz singer. You're such a talented artist—don't just settle for a humdrum existence as an office-worker! A trip is always a welcome break from my otherwise humdrum existence.
humdudgeon
obsolete slang A illness that has been imagined. A: "Frederick called the doctor again?" B: "You know how he is—one twitch or pain leads him to believe he's extremely ill. Just another humdudgeon, I would suppose." I wouldn't worry, Mrs. Stewart. Your daughter's illness appears to be a humdudgeon, so she doesn't have to take any medication. He doesn't have a fever or anything, though. Do you think this is just a humdudgeon related to his upcoming performance in the play?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
hem and haw (around)
Inf. to be uncertain about something; to be evasive; to say "ah" and "eh" when speaking—avoiding saying something meaningful. Stop hemming and hawing around. I want an answer. Don't just hem and haw around. Speak up. We want to hear what you think.
hum with activity
Fig. [for a place] to be busy with activity. The kitchen hummed with activity as usual. Our main office was humming with activity during the busy season.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hem and haw
BRITISH, AMERICAN or hum and haw
BRITISHIf you hem and haw or 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. My mother hummed and hawed at first, but eventually she sent her agreement. Note: People sometimes use hum and ha with the same meaning. Abu hummed and ha-ed a little.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
hum and haw (or ha)
hesitate; be indecisive. British The word hum has been used as an inarticulate syllable in hesitant speech since Chaucer; ha appears in a similar role from the early 17th century.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ho-hum
(ˈhoˈhəm) mod. dull; causing yawns of boredom. (Ho-hum is a representation of the sound of a yawn.) Clare played another ho-hum concert at the music hall last night.
hum job
and hummer n. a sexual act involving holding the penis in the mouth while humming. (see also
humdinger.)
He asked for a hum job, so she hummed him a lullaby. humdinger
and hummer (ˈhəm(ˈdɪŋɚ)) n. someone or something excellent. (see also
hum job.)
Now, this one is a real humdinger. Man, that’s a hummer! McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
hem and haw
To be hesitant and indecisive; equivocate: "a leader who cannot make up his or her mind, never knows what to do, hems and haws" (Margaret Thatcher).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
hem and haw
To refuse to give a definite answer. “Hem,” similar in derivation to the interjection “ahem,” meant to hesitate. “Haw” meant much the same sense of being noncommittal. Combine the two, and you have someone who's stalling for time and hoping not to have to respond any further.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price