The saying “no room to swing a cat” is commonly used to describe a very cramped or confined space. Its exact origin is somewhat debated, but there are two main theories:
- Naval Origin Theory – One popular explanation suggests that the phrase comes from the British Royal Navy, where sailors were punished with a cat o’ nine tails, a whip with multiple tails used for flogging. The limited space aboard ships under the deck meant there was “no room to swing a cat” without hitting something or someone. Therefore, flogging as a punishment had to be carried out on deck. However, apparently there is little direct historical evidence linking the phrase to this practice (see more below). You’ll it in films though 😎😃.
- Literal Interpretation – Another, more straightforward theory is that the phrase simply refers to a physical space too small to swing a cat (the animal). This aligns with how the phrase is commonly used today to describe small rooms or confined living quarters. If this is the origin it is clearly a cruel one. In any case why swing a cat presumably by their tail inside the home?! It is a shocker that does not bear thinking about.
As I mention in the infographic, I very much favour the naval origin as it makes far more sense. It is obvious why the whip was named after the cat. See more below.
The phrase dates back to at least the 17th century. The earliest known written usage appears in John Ray’s A Collection of English Proverbs (1670), where a similar expression is mentioned.
While the naval theory is a popular folk explanation, linguistic historians generally favor the idea that the phrase simply originated from everyday life, describing cramped spaces where one could not freely move—even for an exaggerated action like swinging a cat.
More: Sayings
Are there any actual stories confirming the naval connection?
There are no well-documented historical accounts directly linking the phrase “no room to swing a cat” to specific naval events, but there are elements of naval life that may have contributed to the association. Some anecdotes and observations from sailors and historians suggest how the phrase could have emerged in a maritime context:
- The Crowded Lower Decks – British warships in the Age of Sail were notoriously cramped, with sailors sleeping in hammocks that were often strung just 14–18 inches apart. Some accounts describe men having to turn in their hammocks in unison due to the lack of space. If a sailor remarked that there was “no room to swing a cat”, it could have been a humorous way of emphasizing the extreme lack of personal space.
- Discipline and the Cat o’ Nine Tails – Flogging with the cat o’ nine tails was a formal punishment, usually carried out on the open deck so that there was sufficient room for the whip to be wielded. Some naval traditions dictated that all hands be assembled to witness a flogging as a deterrent. Though there is no specific story of a flogging being hindered by a lack of space, sailors familiar with both the punishment and the phrase may have connected the two over time.
- Richard Henry Dana’s Observations – In his 1840 memoir Two Years Before the Mast, Dana describes the brutal discipline aboard merchant and naval vessels, including flogging. Though he does not use the phrase “no room to swing a cat”, his accounts reinforce the common use of the cat o’ nine tails in shipboard discipline and the confined conditions sailors endured.
- Naval Folklore and the Expansion of the Myth – Many 19th- and early 20th-century naval histories and memoirs repeat the idea that the phrase originated with the cat o’ nine tails, but without direct evidence. Sailors were known for their use of slang and colorful idioms, and over time, the phrase became intertwined with naval traditions, even if it did not originate there.
While no single story definitively links the phrase to the Navy, these elements help explain why the connection persists in popular history. The phrase likely predates the Age of Sail, but given the harsh discipline and tight living quarters on warships, it’s easy to see how sailors would adopt it as part of their language.
