if( exists $hash{$key} ){
    &$hash{$key};
}
elsif( $key =~ /phrase/ ){
    # several could match but all required the same action
    &$hash{'some_action'};
}
else {
    &$hash{'default_action'};
}

##</code><code>##

s**lil*;  $*=join'',sort split q**;  s;.*;grr; &&s+(.(.)).+$2$1+; $; =
qq-$_-;s,.*,ahc,;$,.=chop for split q,,,reverse;print for($,,$;,$*,$/)