What does "a buck three-eighty-two" mean?

I think you’re mistaken about that. I’ve only heard “four eleven” applied to a ratio of 4.11 to 1, and I don’t recall ever hearing a rear axle ratio expressed in only two significant digits – it’s always three digits (e.g. 3.42, 3.73, 4.10 – three forty-two, three seventy-three, and four ten respectively). The “to one” is understood and does not need to be stated, and virtually never is.

:smack: You’re right, my bad.

As distinguished from the 3.31, 3.54, 3.78 and 4.11 diffs? Carrying the ratio out to two decimal places is standard.

To me, it means a dollar and 38.2 cents. Not surprised I’d be incorrect though.

German syntax plus jazz musicians make me think: Yiddish?