Feifei
大家好，欢迎收听BBC英语教学的《地道英语》节目。我是冯菲菲。
Rob
And I'm Rob. So Feifei, have you got any holiday plans?
Feifei
Yes, I have actually. 我计划去澳大利亚三周。
Rob
Australia – wonderful. If I had the money, I'd go there at the drop of a hat.
Feifei
What? At the drop of a hat?“帽子掉了就去”？Here, take my hat.
Rob
Your hat?
Feifei
Yes, you said you'd go at the drop of a hat, so here's my hat, now drop it – and then you can go.
Rob
I wish it was that simple. When I said at the drop of a hat I meant immediately. If I had enough money, I would go to Australia immediately – without delay.
Feifei
I see. 原来，在英语里，我们可以用短语 at the drop of a hat 来表示“毫不犹豫地，不加思索地”，也就是在做事的时候毫不迟疑。So in other words, you would go to Australia without hesitation.
Rob
Exactly. Let's hear some more examples.
Examples
My husband just can't stop spending. He buys clothes at the drop of a hat!
If I knew what to do next, I'd quit my job at the drop of a hat. Until then, I'll stay where I am.
My wife's expecting a baby so I might have to rush to the hospital at the drop of a hat.
Feifei
如果我们以“at the drop of a hat”的速度做一个决定，那么所突出表达的意思是“我们毫不犹豫地快速地做出了这个决定”。Well Rob, I'll send you a postcard when I get to Australia but it might take a while.
Rob
Why's that?
Feifei
Well, I'm going skiing in France first.
Rob
Oh, well that's somewhere where you really don't want to drop your hat – it'll be freezing!
Feifei
So you don't fancy coming with me then?
Rob
Skiing? No, that's something I wouldn't do at the drop of a hat. I'll have a think about it. But have fun.
Feifei
Thanks!
Both
Bye!
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