hem

Universal Words noun, verb noun the edge of a piece of fabric that has been folded over and sewn, especially on a piece of clothing: to take up the hem of a dress (= to make the dress shorter) verb (-mm-) [VN] to make a hem on sth: to hem a skirt IDIOMS hem and haw (AmE) = HUMANDHAW PHRASALVERBS hem sb/sth<->in to surround sb/sth so that they cannot move or grow easily SYNHEDGESB/STHIN: The village is hemmed in on all sides by mountains. * (figurative) She felt hemmed in by all their petty rules and regulations.