at the drop of a hat

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

Famously, they'll take requests from the audience, often playing other artists' songs at the drop of a hat.

From BBC

“I personally prefer being in the office, to be close to my team and to be able to chat through things at the drop of a hat,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

To summon such challenging and intricate music at the drop of a hat is another of the band’s magic tricks.

From Los Angeles Times

But at the drop of a hat— and I knew this on the first tape, we did a test together — if you help her, she could reach a profound emotion in a second and connect with grief in a second.

From Los Angeles Times

Early on, Daphne tells us that she had “carried my life like a handkerchief knapsack at the end of a broom handle, something small and containable I could pick up and move at the drop of a hat. And I never knew what it was I was running from.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• cheerfully
• eagerly
• easily
• freely
• gladly
• immediately
• promptly
• willingly