hem2 verb (hemmed, hemming) 1. [transitiveT]DCC to turn under the edge of a piece of material or clothing and stitch it in place 给…缝褶边
2. hem and haw American EnglishAmEPAUSE to keep pausing before saying something, and avoid saying it directly 〔说话时〕吞吞吐吐,支支吾吾 SYN British English hum and hawhem and haw• They hemmed and hawed and fiddled with the data, and called for more aid and more research.• Floyd hemmed and hawed when he was asked to introduce himself. 3 hem somebody/something ↔ in phrasal verbphr v a) AROUND/ROUNDto surround someone or something closely 把〔某人或某物〕围住 They were hemmed in on all sides by the soldiers and the dogs. 他们被士兵和狗团团围住。
The market place is hemmed in by shops and banks. 市场周边商店和银行林立。
b) FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WANTCAN'Tto make someone feel that they are not free to do what they want to do 限制 They hem in the child with endless rules and restrictions. 他们用没完没了的规定来限制那个孩子。