at the drop of a hat
On zero notice
At the drop of a hat means immediately and without hesitation, suggesting eagerness or willingness to act on the slightest pretext: She'd quit her job at the drop of a hat if something better came along.
The phrase evokes a time when dropping a hat signaled the start of a race or fight—no preparation needed, just go.
- lickety-splitExtremely fast, immediately
- in a flashWithout any delay
- instantBriefest unit of time
- in a heartbeatWithout any delay
- split secondInfinitesimal unit of time
sudden · just like that · prompt · in no time · straightaway · hasty · spur-of-the-moment · on a whim · rash · impetuous · unhesitating · without a second thought · quick on the draw · unplanned · eager · quick · willing · instinctive
- clothing idiomsfit like a glove, dressed to the nines, dressed to kill, wear the pants, caught with pants down
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- Speed Expressionsin a flash, quick as a flash, in no time, lickety-split, lickety split
at the drop of a hateventually
At a later time
in due course · slowly but surely · at a snail's pace · in good time · when hell freezes over
at the drop of a hatmethodically
In an organized manner
cautiously · circumspectly · prudently · judiciously · hesitatingly
at the drop of a hatreluctantly
With obvious unwillingness
grudgingly · kicking and screaming · dragging one's feet · begrudgingly · when pigs fly
drop, drops, dropped, dropping, dropper, droplet, hatted, hatter