at the drop of a hat
13
4.2
- idiom
- Informal
:
sin dudarlo
- She agreed to help us with the project at the drop of a hat.
- cry at the drop of a hat
- ready at the drop of a hat
- love at the drop of a hat
We react at the drop of a hat for trivia just because we are out of balance.
- We react at the drop of a hat for trivia just because we are out of balance.
Examples
-
Even at home, we'd pray at the drop of a hat.
Fiction book (1997) -
His daddy was a part-time preacher, and Conrad could pray fluently at the drop of a hat.
Fiction book (1995) -
You switch jobs at the drop of a hat.
-
He'll sing at the drop of a hat.
-
Willing to try new things at the drop of a hat.
Blog text (3) -
Wherever I am, I sing at the drop of a hat.
-
And knowing her, she may up and quit this job and be off to Toronto at the drop of a hat.
Fiction book (1995) -
Bisping will fight at the drop of a hat.
-
She used to cook at the drop of a hat, and good stuff, too.
-
Cobb would fight any man on or off the field at the drop of a hat.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
At once without waiting
344
1.0
Immediately without delay
50
3.2
Right away without any hesitation
8
3.0
Immediately without delay
4
6.0
Very quickly and without hesitation
3
5.5
To act immediately and confidently without pausing
1
6.6
Without showing surprise or worry
1
3.5
Very quickly, in an instant
Antonyms
How Quickly
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + the + drop + of + a + hat
The meaning 'immediately and without hesitation' cannot be derived from the literal senses of 'drop' and 'hat' — knowing the words still leaves the relation between a dropped hat and prompt action unexplained. This phrase is idiomatic with a historical/cultural origin that is not a transparent compositional pattern and therefore would not be predictable for a B1 learner who merely knows the constituents.
Etymology
At the drop of a hat comes from the idea of using a hat as a quick signal: if someone literally dropped their hat to start a race or a fight, people would move at once. So the phrase now means 'immediately' or 'without any hesitation'.