Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[iloveyou]

What does it mean?
Is it same as at the drop of a hat?

she will come at the drop of a pin.


Thanks

[CP]

Sounds like the author mixed up two sayings:

"She will come at the drop of a hat" means she will come on the smallest excuse, or with the least notice.

"It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop" means that it was very quiet. The pin is one of those little straight pins that people use to hold cloth together while sewing.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[redset]

'At the drop of a pin' is a phrase in itself - I'm not sure of the exact difference but I think it might mean that a person reacts to the slightest thing, whereas 'at the drop of a hat' means a person decides to do something (like CP said). You could think of 'the drop of a pin' meaning 'the tiniest little noise', which is enough to scare or anger someone into reacting.

But I'm not exactly sure. They are both phrases and they have similar meanings, though.

[CP]

I'm glad to learn a new phrase. Where have I been all my life?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb