'The cats out of the bag'

Came from the practice of placing the cat o nine tails in a hessian bag after it was made by the mad who was to undergo a lashing. The cat and bag would be handed over to the bosun's mate who would keep it until the punishment started and took the cat out of the bag. A sign of something nasty about to happen.

Kept it clean and ready for use. They were only ever used once, how hygenic can you get.

'No room to swing a cat'

Definately connected with the above. One needed room so the cat could be whipped back and brought down on the offender.

'Rubbing salt into the wound'

Following the lashing salt was rubbed into the mans' back, a cheap form of antiseptic not an additional punishment.

'Ship shape and Bristol fashion'

Bristol in Avon was a major sea port for the Atlantic trade. They prided themselves on running and maintining their ships so they would survive the sea crossings.

'Navy cut' as in tobacco. Tobacco was not normally smoked at sea on a warship, there being rather large amounts of gunpowder around.

So tobacco was rolled tightly in a canvas roll and bound, then soaked in rum and dried. Sailors would cut a 'quid' (yes that is a much used expression too) with a knife to chew. Hence Navy Cut tobacco.

Spitkids were placed throughout the ship. Woe betide the sailor who spat and missed, considered as an insult to the Crown they could end up seeing the cat come out of the bag.

'Gone doolally' Gone mad.

Comes from the time of the Raj in India where there was a mental home in a town called Dolahly (at least I think that is how it is spelt).

'A right lash up' Badly done.

After sailors were woken to come on watch on warships their hammocks had to be neatly and tighly trussed up and put in the netting around the upper gun deck. This was used as a form of protection during battle. On more modern warships when hammocks were still used again they had to be neatly and tighly trussed up for stowage. Badly trussed hammocks earnt the ire of the inspecting Chief or Petty Officers.