hum and haw

• hem and haw (US)
• hum and ha (UK)
• um and ah (AUS)

• IPA^(key): /ˌhʌm ənd ˈhɔː/

hum and haw (third-person singular simple present hums and haws, present participle humming and hawing, simple past and past participle hummed and hawed)

1. (British, idiomatic) To procrastinate; to take a long time before doing something or taking a decision.

   We hummed and hawed before finally deciding to buy this house.