If *LEVEL* is at least 7, "if" statements will be translated into equivalent expressions using "&&", "?:" and "do {}"; for instance print 'hi' if $nice; if ($nice) { print 'hi'; } if ($nice) { print 'hi'; } else { print 'bye'; } turns into $nice and print 'hi'; $nice and do { print 'hi' }; $nice ? do { print 'hi' } : do { print 'bye' };