Shipshape and Bristol fashion

Shipshape and Bristol fashion is an English saying.

These days, it means everything is nice and tidy, with no rubbish strewn around.

Its origins are nautical. The port of Bristol (before the Floating Harbour was constructed), had a very high tidal range of 17 feet^{[citation needed]}. Ships in the harbour at low tide would be aground and, because of their keels, would fall to one side^{[citation needed]}. If everything was not stowed away tidily, or tied down, the results were chaotic and cargo could be spoiled.^{[citation needed]}