>perl -e"use strict 'refs'; ${'foo'} = 1;" Can't use string ("foo") as a SCALAR ref while "strict refs" in use at -e line 1. >perl -e"use strict 'refs'; &{'foo'}" Can't use string ("foo") as a subroutine ref while "strict refs" in use at -e line 1. >perl -e"use strict 'refs'; goto &{'foo'}" Goto undefined subroutine &main::foo at -e line 1.