What does “Humming and harring” mean?
"Humming and hawing" means hesitating or being indecisive.
What context can I use the in?
Example
I've been humming and harring about whether to go on vacation or not.
Example
She's always humming and harring when it comes to making important decisions.
Example
Stop humming and harring and just choose already
Is “Humming and harring” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“Humming and harring” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “Humming and harring” effectively in context?
You can use "Humming and Harring" to describe someone who is hesitating or being indecisive. It emphasizes the idea of someone going back and forth, unable to make up their mind. For example, if a friend is having trouble deciding whether to accept a job offer, you might say, 'She's been humming and harring about it for weeks.'
- 1Making Decisions
He's always humming and harring when it comes to choosing a restaurant for dinner.
- 2Planning
They've been humming and harring about where to go on vacation this year.
- 3Opinions
Stop humming and harring and tell us what you really think.
Similar phrases to “Humming and harring”:
Being indecisive or uncertain
Example
She's been wavering between going to the party or staying home.
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “Humming and harring” come from?
The origin of the phrase "Humming and Harring" is unknown.
Is “Humming and harring” common in everyday conversation?
"Humming and Harring" is a relatively common expression in everyday conversation. People often use it to describe someone who is indecisive or hesitant in making choices.
What tone does “Humming and harring” have?
"Humming and Harring" conveys a tone of frustration or impatience. It's often used to express annoyance towards someone who is taking too long to make a decision.
Can “Humming and harring” be used in informal and formal settings?
"Humming and Harring" is more commonly used in informal settings. It's a casual expression that is often used in conversations with friends, family, or colleagues. However, it can also be used in more formal situations to convey the idea of indecisiveness.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
It's commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'She's been humming and harring about whether to buy the dress or not.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Stop "humming and harring"!' to imply frustration with someone's indecisiveness.
