hawing
Fumbling for words
Hawing is the act of making a "haw" sound—a hesitation noise when speaking, usually paired with hemming: He stood there hawing, unable to give a straight answer.
The combination hemming and hawing describes someone stalling or being evasive.
Separately, hawing can mean turning left, a command used with draft animals: The farmer was hawing the oxen around the corner.
Folded garment edge
- stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions
- stutterInvoluntary speech repetition
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
fumble · mumble · stumbling · tongue-tied · splutter · groping · halting · stammering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- equivocatingSpeaking with deliberate ambiguity
- wafflingEvasive, indecisive speech
shilly-shallying · oscillating · teetering · seesawing · flip-flopping · ambivalent · irresolute · undecided
Causing later occurrence
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
- dragging feetDelaying through reluctance
- foot-draggingDeliberate slowness or resistance
buying time · playing for time · stonewalling · filibustering · obstructing · dawdling · dallying · tarrying
hem
Folded garment edge
- stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions
- stutterInvoluntary speech repetition
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
pause · fumble · mumble · stumbling · tongue-tied · splutter · groping · halting · stammering · stuttering
wavering
Showing unsteady resolve
- vacillatingSwaying between choices
- ditheringProlonged indecisive hesitation
- equivocatingSpeaking with deliberate ambiguity
waffling · shilly-shallying · oscillating · teetering · seesawing · flip-flopping · ambivalent · irresolute · undecided · wishy-washy
delaying
Causing later occurrence
- temporizingDeliberately delaying decision-making
- procrastinatingPostponing what needs doing
- dragging feetDelaying through reluctance
foot-dragging · buying time · playing for time · stonewalling · filibustering · obstructing · dawdling · dallying · tarrying · lingering
hawingarticulating
Expressing clearly in speech
asserting · declaring · pronouncing · enunciating · stating
hawingdeciding
Making a choice
committing · resolving · acting · choosing · determining
- hemming and hawingIndecisive verbal stalling
- hee hawingDonkey's loud vocalization
hawk, hawked, hawker, hawking, hawkish, haw, hewing, hawklike, hewn