When he saw the robbery, he called the police at the drop of a hat.
他一看到这起抢劫就立即报了警。
这个俚语源于美国西部过去的决斗和赛马之类的比赛,裁判会用扔帽子的形式宣布比赛开始,帽子一旦落地,比赛就正式开始。这个规则延续了很久,后来才用发令枪代替,但这个说法从此流传下来,用来表示立即、马上。这个俚语还可以指一个脾气一触即发的人。
Kevin:I was scared when this accident happened.
事情发生时我真是吓坏了。
Rose:So was I.
我也一样啊。
Kevin:Thank goodness that you had called the ambulance at the drop of a hat, or my grandpa would have been in great danger.
谢天谢地,还好你立即叫了救护车,要不然我爷爷可就有生命危险了。
Rose:It's nothing. Heart attack is really a terrible problem for the old.
这没什么,心脏病对老年人来说真是一个严重的问题。
Kevin:Thank you very much!
非常感谢你。