opera-hat

A gentleman tips his opera-hat as he leaves the theater.

Definition

Noun: An "opera-hat" is a type of man's hat that has a collapsible top, designed to be easily stored or carried when not in use, traditionally worn to formal events like the opera.

Usage Examples

• (A collapsible formal hat for men.)
• (A hat with a foldable crown, used for formal occasions.)

Advanced Usage

• "to tip one's opera-hat": a polite gesture of greeting or acknowledgment, often performed by lifting the hat slightly.
  • He tipped his opera-hat to the lady as she passed. (He made a courteous gesture with his hat.)

Variants and Related Words

• Opera (n): a dramatic work in which the text is sung, often performed in a theatre.
  • We attended a performance of the opera "La Traviata". (A sung dramatic work.)
• Hat (n): a covering for the head, typically with a brim and crown.
  • She wore a wide-brimmed hat to protect herself from the sun. (A head covering.)

Synonyms

• Top hat: a similar tall, flat-topped hat, but not necessarily collapsible.
• Claque: (archaic) a collapsible hat, though this term is rarely used today.

Related Idioms

• "to pass the hat": to collect money from a group of people, often for a cause.
  • They passed the hat to raise funds for the charity. (They collected donations.)

Phrasal Verbs