beat around the bush 拐弯抹角
waffle on 含糊其辞
dither over 犹豫不决
equivocate in speaking 模棱两可地说话
stall for time 拖延时间
be indirect 说话不直接
1. He kept hemming and hawing when asked about his decision.
当被问到决定时,他一直支支吾吾。
2. Stop hemming and hawing and give me a clear answer.
别再犹豫不决了,给我一个明确的答案。
3. She hemmed and hawed before finally agreeing to the plan.
她犹豫了很久才最终同意这个计划。
4. The manager hemmed and hawed when discussing the budget cuts.
经理在谈预算削减时含糊其辞。
A: Stop hemming and hawing and tell me what you think.
A:别再支支吾吾了,告诉我你的想法。
B: I’m sorry, I just need more time to decide.
B:抱歉,我只是还需要更多时间来决定。
1) 表示说话犹豫、不直接表达
2) 表示用含糊语言拖延回答
3) 表示在决定时反复摇摆不定
4) 常用于批评别人不够果断
1. 表示说话犹豫、含糊其辞
e.g.
He hemmed and hawed when asked about the issue.
当被问到这个问题时,他支支吾吾。
2. 表示拖延时间、不直接回答
e.g.
She hemmed and hawed instead of giving a clear answer.
她没有直接回答,而是含糊其辞。
noun
1. An idiomatic expression meaning to speak in a hesitant, indirect, or evasive way, often avoiding a clear answer.
Synonym: hesitate, waffle, equivocate