Not enough room to swing a cat

Origin

The seemingly cruel image of swinging an actual feline is a misdirection; the 'cat' in question refers to the 'cat-o'-nine-tails,' a brutal multi-tailed whip historically used for corporal punishment, particularly in the British Royal Navy. Wielding this formidable instrument effectively required considerable space to prevent the tails from fouling on obstacles or striking the wielder. On the cramped decks and below-deck areas of 17th and 18th-century sailing ships, such room was a rare luxury. Thus, a lack of sufficient space to administer a flogging became synonymous with any extremely confined area, capturing the tight quarters of life at sea.