Know the ___, phrase for understanding how something works, that comes from sailor slang for mastering miles of rigging

Singer ___ Dylan of "Blowin' in the Wind"3 ___ constrictor (South American snake)3 ___ up (confesses)4 Alpha, ___, gamma (first three Greek letters)4 Just a ___ (wee bit)3 Pond hopper from the frog family4 "The Odyssey" actress Hathaway4 Distributed, as cards5