#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;
use Data::Dumper;

my %hash;

$hash{1-2-3} = 23;
print Dumper \%hash;

%hash=();
$hash{"1-2-3"} = 23;
print Dumper \%hash;

#$hash{HOMETOWN-HOUSTON} = 1;
#Bareword "HOMETOWN" not allowed while "strict subs" in use ..
#Bareword "HOUSTON" not allowed while "strict subs" in use ...

$hash{"HOMETOWN-HOUSTON"} = 1;  #this is ok

__END__
$VAR1 = {
          '-4' => 23
        };
$VAR1 = {
          '1-2-3' => 23
        };