aah

um and ah

To be hesitant or indecisive, especially when speaking out loud about a decision. "Um" and "ah" are common filler words used by habit or when one is deciding what to say. Try not to um and ah so much when you're considering a counter-proposal—it's not professional. It felt like that guy ummed and ahed for five minutes before he gave me his order.
See also: ah, and, um
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

ˌum and ˈaah (about something)

(also ˌhum/ˌhem and ˈhaw less frequent) (informal) speak but say nothing important because you need more time to think about a problem, matter, etc: He ummed and aahed for about half an hour and then finally said he would lend me the money. After a lot of umming and aahing, he finally said yes to the plan.
Um, aah, etc. are sounds that people make when they hesitate or do not know what to say next.
See also: aah, and, um
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • um and aah
  • um and ah
  • you know
  • mealy
  • mealy-mouthed
  • make a habit of
  • make a habit of (doing something)
  • make a habit/practice of something
  • loose lip(s)
  • have a loud mouth
References in periodicals archive
He was released in January 2010, reportedly in exchange for the release of Peter Moore, a computer consultant who had been kidnapped with four security guards in May 2007 by the AAH.
We constructed autoregressive integrated moving average models to model the relationship between the input and output variables in AAH for April 2007-March 2012 (Appendix, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/ article/25/1/18-0111-App1.pdf).
The obligated group will consist of the vast majority of AAH hospitals, the Advocate Aurora Health parent, and the Advocate Health Care Network and Aurora Medical Group physician practices.
For instance, while Sadr's people provided food, jobs, money, electricity, homes, and other vital services to many Shi'a (albeit, with the side benefit of advancing his own interests), Khazali and AAH did nothing but try to kill coalition personnel.
After 48 h incubation, AAH polyclonal antibody (1:1000, Proteintech, USA, 271391) was added into each well.
To decrease the incidence of complications and increase the long-term survival rate, surgical correction should optimally be performed during infancy.[7] CoA combined with AAH is a complex form of CHD.
Quantum has had a successful relationship with AAH since 2008 and under the terms of the contract extension, Quantum will continue to be the exclusive supplier of specials and special obtains - hard-to-source medicines or products that are not available from main pharmaceutical wholesalers - to AAH for the next five years, together with the provisions of certain order handling, procurement and distribution services.
Quantum had a successful relationship with AAH since 2008 and under the terms of the new contract extension, Quantum will continue to be the exclusive supplier of specials and special obtains -- hard-to-source medicines or products that are not available from main pharmaceutical wholesalers -- to AAH for the next five years, together with the provisions of certain order handling, procurement and distribution services.
John Sharp, |of St John Ambulance, with Keith Richards, driver AAH Pharmaceuticals and Ryan Robson, Ambulance team leader, St John Ambulance
The adverts show a delicious ready prepared meal with the line "Aah now you're talking ..." linking to the current Bisto TV campaign, with the line "Made with meat from trusted sources!
If the application is approved, AAH would be the first private operator of a major airport in over a decade under the FAA Pilot Privatization Program.
Results showed that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous-related Helping (AAH) produced lowered alcohol use and increased interest in others at each subsequent follow-up assessment.
Around 120 jobs are to go at the UK head office of German pharmaceutical giant Celesio as part of a restructure of its Lloydspharmacy and AAH operations.
Japanese carrier ANA on Friday announced that it will become the wholly-owning parent company of ANA Sales Co Ltd (ASX) and ANA Airport Handling Co Ltd (AAH).
At the same time, Maleki wants to bring to power Asa'eb Ahl ul-Haq (AAH), a thuggish Shi'ite militia which has become a local branch of the Quds Force (external arm of Iran's ruling Islamic Revolutionary Corps - IRGC) at the expense of nationalist Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who has 40 seats in the Council of Representatives (parliament) and seven ministers in the government.