1
general::
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]
American Heritage Idioms
2
general::
Phrase(s): 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.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs