Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context idiomatic English) (US) To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind. 2 To mumble and procrastinate in one's speech, especially with a reply to a hard question or with voicing a decision on a topical matter; to evade a question, giving vague answers; to equivocate or temporize.
WordNet
v. utter `hems' and `haws'; indicated hesitation; "He hemmed and hawed when asked to address the crowd"
Usage examples of "hem and haw".
Skan had expected him to hem and haw, but the kestra'chern surprised him by glancing up and smiling.
You can either hem and haw and delay until it's too late, or you can tell me now and give me as much time to prepare as possible.
The salesman she approached gave her the usual hem and haw before striding off to contact the store manager.
Donner would have to take them to a senior official of his news organization, and people would hem and haw, and then they'd go over the copy for his story, and then they'd let him run it.
We're not allowed to leave the castle, except with the Council's permission - none of the ladies are, even Lord Kiyama's - and the Council almost never meets and they hem and haw so there's never any permission and the doctor still says I'm not to travel yet but I'm fine and the baby's fine and .
To which the gods would stammer and hem and haw and have to admit that not only are they not remotely omnipotent, but they in fact have less of a clue how the universe really works than any of us do.
And Authority will hem and haw and say maybe yes and maybe no, and they'll refer the matter to the Religion Advisory to tell them whether our ownin' slaves is religious or not.
He began to hem and haw, not knowing really what he wanted to say.