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What does “at the drop of a hat” mean?

Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.

C1

Immediately, without any hesitation or planning

“She'll book a flight at the drop of a hat.”

Say it smoothly: “a-the-dro-po-fa-hat”

From the C1 lesson Playing It by Ear (time and timing).

Quick check

What does “at the drop of a hat” mean?

Teaching this phrase?“at the drop of a hat” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 2 (Plans, Problems and Feelings).
See the C1 lesson pack

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