Phrase for being indecisive/hesitant

Solution 1:

I have seen all of these words used : dilly-dally, dither, vacillate, waver

Also a nice idiom: beat around the bush

dilly-dally: to waste time, especially by indecision

don't dillydally on the way to the store

dither: to delay taking action because you are not sure about what to do

She did not dither about what to do next.

vacillate: to repeatedly change your opinions or desires

She has vacillated on this issue.

waver: to go back and forth between choices or opinions : to be uncertain about what you think about something or someone

people who are still wavering between the two candidates

beat around the bush: to avoid answering a question; to stall; to waste time

Stop beating around the bush and answer my question.

Edit: Found the following related idioms.

sit on the fence:

Fig. not to take sides in a dispute; not to make a clear choice between two possibilities.

(Fig. on the image of someone straddling a fence, representing indecision.)

When Jane and Tom argue, it is best to sit on the fence and not make either of them angry. No one knows which of the candidates Joan will vote for. She's sitting on the fence.

cold feet: noun, Informal. 1. a loss or lack of courage or confidence; an onset of uncertainty or fear: She got cold feet when asked to sing a solo.

Solution 2:

"Hem and haw" would be appropriate.

Wikitionary:

To discuss, deliberate, or contemplate rather than taking action or making up one's mind.
'If you hem and haw long enough, someone else will do it first.'

Merriam-Webster:

To take a long time before making a decision about what to do.
'The city council hemmed and hawed for a year before deciding to build the new school.'

Dictionary.com:

Be hesitant and indecisive.

This is how I would use it in the sentences in question:

1. You know how my friends are, they always hem and haw so I can't expect an immediate answer.

2. At the restaurant, when I was asked what I wanted to order, I hemmed and hawed before finally ordering the steak.

3. Stop hemming and hawing, this has to be done right now!

Solution 3:

I would say of the suggestions people have submitted, the word "deliberated" would fit your initial 3 examples best:

1. "You know how my friends are, they always deliberate so I can't expect an immediate answer."

2. "At the restaurant, when I was asked what I wanted to order, I deliberated before finally ordering the steak."

3. "Stop deliberating, this has to be done right now!"

Deliberating suggests unhurried decision-making. Other options such as "hem & haw" or "vacillate" infer indecision between 2 options, whereas "procrastinate" is merely to put off. "Deliberate" indicates that options are purposefully being considered, albeit slowly.

The answer "Hem & Haw" from @Idos above is also suitable. Depends on whether you wish to convey considered thought, or more casual indecision.