Maybe Ive misunderstood: 

$var = "'\$";
print $var, "\n";
print "wahoo\n" if ($var =~ /\'\$/);

[download]

I notice your output mentions sql strings, have you tried using the $dbh->quote method? may be the answer to your problems?

In reply to Re: How can I match '$ (literally) by agoth
in thread How can I match '$ (literally) by Anonymous Monk

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