A: We’re going to the Japanese-style hot spring. Will you go with us?

    B: I’ll pass. I’m not comfortable with you guys seeing me in the buff.

    Note: This idiom means “naked.” A buff-coat was a light leather tunic which was worn by English soldiers up until the 17th century. The original meaning of “in the buff” was simply to be wearing such a coat. Shakespeare makes reference to this in “The Comedy of Errors,” 1590. The later meaning (naked) is an allusion to the color of the skin, which is somewhat like the color buff (a light browny yellow). This was first recorded by Thomas Dekker in his work in 1602. In this he likens “in buff” to “in stag,” which was a commonly used term for naked in the 17th century.