Talk through one's hat

Origin

The whimsical image of someone talking 'through their hat' first took shape in the late 19th century, with its roots possibly in American baseball. Picture a bewildered umpire or a blustering player, perhaps making a ludicrous statement or a questionable call. The notion was that their words were so muddled, so utterly nonsensical, they couldn't possibly be coming from a clear mind. Instead, it was as if the foolish utterances were escaping, not from their mouth, but unintelligibly 'through their hat,' a physical barrier seemingly obstructing common sense and clear thought. This vivid, slightly absurd image quickly became a shorthand for speaking foolishly or without knowledge.