at every opportunity; whenever there is a chance; on the slightest pretext
Used when someone habitually does something at every possible occasion, often with a critical or exasperated tone. Implies the action is triggered by even minor events.
He complains at every opportunity.
She was a child who would cry at the drop of a hat.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Variant with 言う in kanji; less common but still seen.
Phrase composed of 何か (something) + という (called) + と (if/when). Literally 'if one says something', it developed the idiomatic sense of 'at every little thing'.