ahem
/əˈhɛm
/exclamation
Used to represent the noise made when clearing the throat, typically to attract attention or express disapproval or embarrassment: ahem, excuse me well, ahem, not exactly...
- If they had let me in flight deck while airborne, I'd only have distracted their work with my charm… ahem!
- And today comes further news of the - ahem - minor difficulties.
- As it happens, it was 6 months before I attended a book group session, and the book itself turned out to be about, ahem, spelling bees.
Origin
Mid 18th century: lengthened form of hem2.