$_ eq "pot" and ($_ = "kettle") for $some->{deeply}{nested}{data}{structure}; #### $some->{deeply}{nested}{data}{structure} = "kettle" if $some->{deeply}{nested}{data}{structure} eq "pot"; #### { local *_ = \$some->{deeply}{nested}{data}{structure}; $_ = "kettle" if $_ eq "pot"; } #### my $stuff; for(return_value()) { chomp; s/foo//g; tr/x/y/; $stuff = $_; } #### my $stuff = return_value(); for($stuff) { chomp; s/foo//g; tr/x/y/; }