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27-Jan-2005, 17:17
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| | at the drop of a hat Quote: |
I jumped out of bed at the drop of a hat.
| What's wrong with this sentence? | 
27-Jan-2005, 19:47
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Nothing. It just means that you got out of bed very quickly. I think that at one time races were started by the dropping of a hat.  | 
28-Jan-2005, 05:57
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Really?!?!?!
What about this?
Ron replied to me at the drop of a hat.  | 
28-Jan-2005, 20:31
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat | 
29-Jan-2005, 05:43
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Thanks, my four-petal clover!
I know it means quickly and right away. When one is learning an idiom, he needs to make lots of sentences to make sure he gets it right! If I only grasp the literal meaning as "quickly and right away", I could make as many sentences as possible without noticing any mistakes.
For example,
1- Patrick gave me a diamond at the drop of a hat before I was going to bed.
2- I went home and took a shower at the drop of a hat.
Do they sound any funny without more context?
After a look at the link, which is a good one because I love pistures, I realized that I need to add more context to give a full image.
Thus,
1- If Patick were filthy rich, he would give me a diamond at the drop of a hat before Leo.
2- I would went home first, then took a shower at the drop of a hat if I knew you were visiting me tonight. You know, a beautiful lady stinks after she did too many cha cha chas on the dancing floor.
Do those examples make more sense compared to the former ones?
Do I have to use it in a conditional sentence?!
Yours,
Giant Dwarf
Last edited by blacknomi : 30-Jan-2005 at 04:09.
| 
29-Jan-2005, 17:32
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Quote: |
Originally Posted by blacknomi Thanks, my four-petal clover!
I know it means quickly and right away. When one is learning an idiom, he needs to make lots of sentences to make sure he gets it right! If I only grasp the literal meaning as "quickly and right away", I could make as many sentences as possible without noticing any mistakes.
For example,
1- Patrick gave me a diamond at the drop of a hat before I was going to bed.
2- I went home and took a shower at the drop of a hat.
Do they sound any funny without more context?
After a look at the link, which is a good one because I love pistures, I realized that I need to add more context to give a full image.
Thus,
1- If Patick were filthy rich, he would give me a diamond at the drop of a hat before Leo.
2- I would went home first, then took a shower at the drop of a hat if I knew you were visiting me tonight. You know, a beautiful lady stinks after she did too many cha cha chas on the dancing floor.
Does those examples make more sense compared to the former ones?
Do I have to use it in a conditional sentence?!
Yours,
Giant Dwarf | Hmmmmm, the flower has lost some petals and become a clover and the dwarf is getting taller by the minute......
A little context always helps, but it's not necessary.
No, you don't have to use it in a conditional sentence.
Henry is a very quarrelsome person. He gets into fights at the drop of a hat.
(at the slightest provocation)
She took the job at the drop of a hat. (immediately, without a second thought)
I fall in love at the drop of a hat. (very easily and quickly)  | 
30-Jan-2005, 06:02
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Hundreds-of-thousands-of-petal Clover,
I'm overwhelmed by your good luck. Thanks. Okay, it's okay to jump out of bed at the drop of a hat if natural calls. And sorry that I had to go because of that stupid phone card. It was poor. It only had 2 US dollars with one and half minutes. Money sucker! Anyway, you'll "see" me next week. Hold your breath for the bomb!
Yours,
Wishy washy Dwarf | 
30-Jan-2005, 10:55
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Sweet dwarf,
Hmmm...I wonder how many petals a dandelion has.....
It's okay to jump out of bed at the drop of a hat if NATURE calls.
I figured that's what had happened. No problem.
You've got me on pins and needles!  Dandelion | 
30-Jan-2005, 14:02
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat I reached a GUYS's answering machine!
I was wondering who was it?!?!?!?! It might not be a guy's voice but the language made it sound so.  I didn't like leaving a voice mail in someone's answering machine. I'm old-school who thinks the goal of making a phone call is to get a REAL guy there.
Yours,
Old School | 
30-Jan-2005, 17:09
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| | Re: at the drop of a hat Hi to you, old-school dwarf,
I'm with you on that. I very rarely leave a message. I just don't like talking to a machine.
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