A wild west ledger, an industrial convenience, or a spontaneous magician? Musical guest Ali Bavarian provides some melodic accompaniment as we attempt to uncover the origin of the expression “off the cuff.”

A wild west ledger, an industrial convenience, or a spontaneous magician? Musical guest Ali Bavarian provides some melodic accompaniment as we attempt to uncover the origin of the expression "off the cuff."

An abbreviated nepotist, a criminal’s kin, or a Scottish Musical? Download this episode, Bob’s your uncle… your life is now complete.

An abbreviated nepotist, a criminal's kin, or a Scottish Musical? Download this episode, Bob's your uncle... your life is now complete.

If you like baseball – but wish the rules were more confusing and clearly made up on the spot – then this episode is a home run. If you actually hope to learn anything about idiom etymology, this one’s probably a swing and a miss.

If you like baseball - but wish the rules were more confusing and clearly made up on the spot - then this episode is a home run. If you actually hope to learn anything about idiom etymology, this one's probably a swing and a miss.

A presidential put-down, a British bowman, or a cerebral secret? Put on your thinking cap as we discuss the origins of the expression “keep it under your hat.”

A presidential put-down, a British bowman, or a cerebral secret? Put on your thinking cap as we discuss the origins of the expression "keep it under your hat."

A perspiring peasant, a salty serf, or a savory currency? Join us as we discuss the etymology of the phrase “worth his salt.” Or don’t, and suffer through some other bland, flavorless podcast instead.

A perspiring peasant, a salty serf, or a savory currency? Join us as we discuss the etymology of the phrase "worth his salt." Or don't, and suffer through some other bland, flavorless podcast instead.