THE CAT'S PAJAMAS XV

Tad Tuleja

 

A collection of the (mostly) true origins of familiar phrases

 

AT THE DROP OF A HAT

 

Today, At the drop of a hat means to do something instantly, suddenly, without delay. Its history goes back to the old European custom of throwing a glove to the ground as a challenge to a duel. In 17th century Mexico, where gloves were unknown to the native peoples, macho rivals modified this custom (brought to them by the Conquistadors) by throwing hats at each other's feet. In bare-knuckled brawls as well as knife fights, a dropped hat (sombrero decado) was the signal to begin. And to be constantly looking for a dropped hat (vigilante al sombrero) meant you were ready for trouble: hence the modern sense of vigilante [same spelling].

 

One curious twist made these duellos de sombrero a little safer than the "glove duels" of the Europeans. In addition to initiating the action, the dropped hats also served as protection. Each fighter's hat was considered his "home base." If he wished to catch his breath or retreat from a knife thrust, he could gain a temporary respite by stepping on it. Ethnochoreographers generally agree that the balletic leaps and bounds that this rule imparted to the fighting were the original steps of the Mexican Hat Dance.