$ perl -we'use overload q:"":=>sub {print "in stringify"}, q:%{}:=>sub {print " in hash deref";{foo=>1}}; $x=bless[]; qr/$x\->{foo}/' in stringify sthoenna@DHX98431 ~ $ perl -we'use overload q:"":=>sub {print "in stringify"}, q:%{}:=>sub {print " in hash deref";{foo=>1}}; $x=bless[]; qr/$x->{foo}/' in hash deref