my %args; $args{'expr'} = \['booya' 'kada']; #### DB<2> x \%args 0 HASH(0x1cb3778) 'expr' => REF(0x1a35d54) -> ARRAY(0x1ca0124) (WHY AN ARROW?) 0 'booya' 1 'kada' #### my %args; my @ary; @ary = ['booya', 'kada']; $args{'expr'} = \@ary; #### DB<3> x \%args 0 HASH(0x1cb3778) 'expr' => ARRAY(0x1cb3844) 0 ARRAY(0x1cea068) (WHY A ZERO?) 0 'booya' 1 'kada'