Why is fiddle said to be fit?

Fits like a glove. Fits and starts. If the shoe fits, wear it. Fit to be tied. Fit as a fiddle.

We know the meanings of these sayings and can guess their references, except for the last.

Fit as a fiddle? Healthy, yes, but why?

So we asked Bob Bohlken, a retired semantics and linguistics professor at Northwest Missouri State University.

Although people have been fumbling over the origin of “fit as a fiddle” forever, Bohlken thinks it refers to a violin and “fit” stands for “finely tuned.”

Let’s go with that.

So here’s hoping you’re fit as a fiddle and even in fine fettle.

– Kansas City Star