Hee-hawing

Hee-hawing, often used as a gerund or participle, describes the act of making a loud, harsh, braying sound, most commonly associated with donkeys or mules. It can also be used figuratively to describe loud, boisterous laughter, often considered raucous or even foolish. The sound itself typically involves a drawn-out 'hee' followed by a descending 'haw', hence the onomatopoeic term. Beyond its literal representation of animal sounds, 'hee-hawing' can imply a lack of sophistication, intelligence, or seriousness. It can be applied to human vocalizations and, by extension, to behaviors and actions perceived as silly, unsubtle, or excessively jovial. This descriptor highlights the inherent dissonance between the sound and the intended tone, thus becoming a negative or comical identifier, rather than being perceived neutrally.

Hee-hawing meaning with examples

• The donkey, startled by the sudden clap of thunder, began hee-hawing loudly, its cries echoing across the tranquil pasture and disrupting the peaceful atmosphere of the early evening. The farmer knew a storm was near, which made the animal more skittish.
• After the comedian told his joke, the audience erupted in a chorus of hee-hawing laughter. Some critics of the performance felt that the humor was simplistic and relied on low-brow delivery, although it connected with a broad audience.
• The political commentators described the debate as devolving into a spectacle of hee-hawing between the candidates, each trying to out-shout and belittle the other instead of addressing substantive issues, ultimately doing a disservice to the electorate.
• Children, enjoying the slapstick comedy performance, responded with enthusiastic hee-hawing as the clown slipped on a banana peel and fell onto his face. They were delighted by this instance of slapstick physical comedy.
• The crowd's initial skepticism dissolved into delighted hee-hawing as the improv troupe playfully mocked the serious tone of their script, and they became completely engaged in their performance.