%h = ( a=>[3,1..4], b=>[2,1..4], c=>[0..4] );; @sortedKeys = sort{ $h{ $a }[0] <=> $h{ $b }[0] } keys %h;; print "$_ : @{ $h{ $_ } }" for @sortedKeys;; c : 0 1 2 3 4 b : 2 1 2 3 4 a : 3 1 2 3 4