ahem
- 1A small cough sound made to get people to notice you or to listen.
Like tapping a glass with a spoon to get people to stop talking and listen.
Ahem. If I could have everyone's attention, the meeting is starting now.
Ahem! You've been standing in front of the screen for ten minutes.
- 2The soft sound you make when you cough lightly or clear your throat.
Ahem. Pardon me, I've got a tickle in my throat from the dust.
A faint ahem escaped him as the dry air made him clear his throat.
- 3A throat-clearing sound used to show that you do not like or approve of something.
Like a teacher's stern look that says "stop that" without any words.
Ahem. I don't think that joke was appropriate for the children.
Ahem. We do not speak to our guests like that in this house.
- 4A small cough sound used to hint that you mean something other than what your polite words say.
Like winking at someone so they know you don't really mean your words.
He's a "gifted" negotiator, ahem, when he isn't shouting at everyone in the room.
She said her date was, ahem, "between jobs" at the moment.
- 5A small cough sound used to point out that you just made a cheeky or rude pun.
Like the little drum sound that comes after a silly joke.
The astronomer said his job really takes up space, ahem.
She joked that the tailor always had her in stitches, ahem.
- 6To cough lightly or clear your throat on purpose so that people notice you.
Like knocking softly on a door to let people know you're there.
If the clerk keeps ignoring you, just ahem loudly until someone turns around.
He ahemed from the doorway, hoping someone inside would finally notice him.
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Practice
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Origin
This word imitates the sound it names.