The origin of the idiom "room to swing a cat" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated from the practice of sailors on ships who would use the cat o' nine tails (a type of whip) for punishment. Due to the limited space on board, the expression developed to describe a confined or cramped space where it would be difficult to swing such an instrument fully. Over time, it has evolved to be used figuratively to describe a small or restricted area.

Definition und Bedeutung von „room to swing a cat“ im Englischen

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