a la mínima

USAGE NOTE
This idiom may be literally translated as "at the slightest."
a la mínima
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. at the slightest little thing
Mi chihuahua es muy asustadizo. A la mínima se pone a ladrar.My Chihuahua is very skittish. He'll start barking at the slightest little thing.
b. over the slightest little thing
Trato de llevarme bien con Sally, pero no es fácil porque a la mínima se enoja.I try to get along with Sally, but it's not easy because she gets mad over the slightest little thing.
c. at the slightest thing
Yo soy muy sensible. A la mínima me echo a llorar.I'm very sensitive. I cry at the slightest thing.
d. at the drop of a hat
An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).
(idiom)
Es un buen tenista, pero a la mínima pierde los estribos y lo echa todo a perder.He's a good tennis player, but he loses his temper at the drop of a hat and blows it.
e.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Mi papá es muy irritable. Salta a la mínima.My dad has a short temper. The littlest thing can set him off.
Estos animales son agresivos por naturaleza. A la mínima te atacan.These animals are aggressive by nature. Given the slightest chance, they attack.
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