[tkean1952]

The "64,000 dollar question" came from a television quiz show in the 50's or 60' (ended by a scandal).

As you worked your way through the questions, becoming progressively more difficult, you (with some luck and talent) arrived at the highest possible dollar amount that you could win .. $64,000.

You still hear it a lot from people over 45 or 50 years old.

Journalists often use the phrase, even though (based on their appearance) they must be considerably younger than the ages I mentioned.

Their use of the phrase might be the factor extending it's useful life.

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An ambulance chaser was a lawyer that probably was not talented enough to acquire customers in the normal way, so they listened to the emergency radio frequencies (at that time, such activity was only authorized in the US), hoping to find a victim that wanted to sue the party causing the injury.

I am not sure about cynical .. but it shows a lack of respect for the person's career abilities.