What Does “at the drop of a hat” mean?
Definition:
When someone does something at the drop of a hat, they do it immediately at the slightest signal, without hesitation or with little encouragement or provocation.
Origin
This phrase dates back to the 1800s. During that period, it was a common practice to drop a hat to signal the beginning of a fight or race. The response to the signal was immediate and without hesitation. This swift response was transferred to the idiomatic expression: at the drop of a hat.
Here is a variation of the phrase:
– At the drop of a dime.
Example(s)
So many years of sacrifice and then you can leave me at the drop of a hat.
Don’t hesitate to call me if you need help. I can come at the drop of a hat.
This idiom is in the clothes category.