at the drop of a hat

Related to at the drop of a hat: back to the drawing board, beat around the bush

at the drop of a hat

1. With little provocation. Don't let my mother watch any of those sappy movies—she cries at the drop of a hat.

2. Freely; immediately. I don't have any vacation time yet at my new job, so I can't just travel at the drop of a hat. I can always depend on my dad. Any time I need help, he's there at the drop of a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at the drop of a hat

Fig. immediately; instantly; on the slightest signal or urging. (Alludes to the dropping of a hat as a signal.) John was always ready to go fishing at the drop of a hat. If you need help, just call on me. I can come at the drop of a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

at the drop of a hat

Immediately, without delay, as in We were ready to pack our bags and go on vacation at the drop of a hat. This phrase probably alludes to signaling the start of a race or other contest by dropping a hat. [Late 1800s]

See also: drop, hat, of

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

at the drop of a hat

COMMON If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it willingly and without hesitation. More people should sort out their own minor problems and stop calling the police at the drop of a hat. There is a myth that we are an uncaring generation, shoving our old folk into institutions at the drop of a hat. Note: This expression is often used to suggest that someone does not think carefully enough about their actions. Note: In the early 19th century, boxing matches were often started by someone dropping a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

at the drop of a hat

without delay or good reason. informal

1991 Independent These days Soviet visas are issued at the drop of a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at the ˌdrop of a ˈhat

(informal) immediately and without hesitating: He’s the sort of person who can sing any song at all at the drop of a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

at the drop of a hat

1. Immediately; without delay: would sign the contract at the drop of a hat.

2. With only the slightest provocation: ready to argue at the drop of a hat.

See also: drop, hat, of

at the drop of a hat

At the slightest pretext or provocation.

See also: drop, hat, of

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

at the drop of a hat

At once, without delay. It is thought to come from the practice of dropping or waving a hat as a starting signal for a race, fight, or other event. The phrase also has come to mean “without further encouragement.” The British composers Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, known for their humorous songs and revues, told their friends they could be persuaded to sing their songs “at the drop of a hat,” which in the mid-1950s became the title of their first record album, followed by At the Drop of Another Hat. The term has been a cliché since the mid-1900s.

See also: drop, hat, of

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer

See also:

don't get me wrong
don't beat a dead horse
all in (one's) head
come it
come it (with one)
(I) won't tell a soul
don't go there
cast (one's) lot in with (someone or something)
cast lot in

词组	at the drop of a hat
释义	at the drop of a hat Related to at the drop of a hat: back to the drawing board, beat around the bush at the drop of a hat 1. With little provocation. Don't let my mother watch any of those sappy movies—she cries at the drop of a hat. 2. Freely; immediately. I don't have any vacation time yet at my new job, so I can't just travel at the drop of a hat. I can always depend on my dad. Any time I need help, he's there at the drop of a hat. See also: drop, hat, of Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. at the drop of a hat Fig. immediately; instantly; on the slightest signal or urging. (Alludes to the dropping of a hat as a signal.) John was always ready to go fishing at the drop of a hat. If you need help, just call on me. I can come at the drop of a hat. See also: drop, hat, of McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. at the drop of a hat Immediately, without delay, as in We were ready to pack our bags and go on vacation at the drop of a hat. This phrase probably alludes to signaling the start of a race or other contest by dropping a hat. [Late 1800s] See also: drop, hat, of The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. at the drop of a hat COMMON If you do something at the drop of a hat, you do it willingly and without hesitation. More people should sort out their own minor problems and stop calling the police at the drop of a hat. There is a myth that we are an uncaring generation, shoving our old folk into institutions at the drop of a hat. Note: This expression is often used to suggest that someone does not think carefully enough about their actions. Note: In the early 19th century, boxing matches were often started by someone dropping a hat. See also: drop, hat, of Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. at the drop of a hat without delay or good reason. informal 1991 Independent These days Soviet visas are issued at the drop of a hat. See also: drop, hat, of Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary at the ˌdrop of a ˈhat (informal) immediately and without hesitating: He’s the sort of person who can sing any song at all at the drop of a hat. See also: drop, hat, of Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary at the drop of a hat 1. Immediately; without delay: would sign the contract at the drop of a hat. 2. With only the slightest provocation: ready to argue at the drop of a hat. See also: drop, hat, of at the drop of a hat At the slightest pretext or provocation. See also: drop, hat, of American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. at the drop of a hat At once, without delay. It is thought to come from the practice of dropping or waving a hat as a starting signal for a race, fight, or other event. The phrase also has come to mean “without further encouragement.” The British composers Michael Flanders and Donald Swann, known for their humorous songs and revues, told their friends they could be persuaded to sing their songs “at the drop of a hat,” which in the mid-1950s became the title of their first record album, followed by At the Drop of Another Hat. The term has been a cliché since the mid-1900s. See also: drop, hat, of The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: don't get me wrong don't beat a dead horse all in (one's) head come it come it (with one) (I) won't tell a soul don't go there cast (one's) lot in with (someone or something) cast lot in
随便看	push up on push up on (someone or something) push up (the) daisies pushy push your luck puss pussy pussy bow pussycat pussycat bow pussy fart pussyfoot pussyfoot around pussyfoot (around) pussy out pussy pad pussy whip pussy whipped pussywhipped pussy-whipped put put a bee in bonnet put a bee in (one's) bonnet put a bomb under put a bomb under (someone or something)