Expression idiomatique en anglais: At the drop of a hat

• at the slightest signal
• immediately, without delay
• without any hesitation
• without any planning and for no obvious reason

• We now have a situation where laws are bent at the drop of a hat.
• Dustin was always ready to go fishing at the drop of a hat.
• If you need help, just call on Mike. He can come at the drop of a hat.
• I can’t go rushing off to Edinburgh at the drop of a hat.
• She’d purchase her expensive jewelry at the drop of a hat and worry about how she would pay for it later.
• We’re expected to just do it at the drop of a hat – no notice or anything. It’s disgraceful.
• People will file lawsuits at the drop of a hat these days.
• I’d quit my job at the drop of a hat if I didn’t have a family to support.
• That girl is so emotional; she’ll start crying at the drop of a hat.

This phrase probably alludes to signalling the start of a race, fight or other contest by dropping a hat (late 1800s).

The earliest reference could be found from a hearing on a bankruptcy law from an 1837 Register of Debates in Congress, see this snap shot below:

Consultez notre rubrique « ressources pédagogiques » pour vous entraîner sans stresser en anglais, espagnol, FLE, portugais, etc. grâce à une multitude de sites internet soigneusement sélectionnés pour leur qualité et fiabilité.

Source: http://idioms.in/at-the-drop-of-a-hat/