shipshape and Bristol fashion UK /ˈʃɪpʃeɪp n̩ ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃn̩/US /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp n̩ ˌbɹɪstəl ˈfæʃən/adjective 2adverb 1 adjective2 •(UK, old-fashioned) Of a vessel: tidy, and with its equipment in good order, properly stowed, etc.; shipshape.[…] Bryant ordered the boat to be emptied of everything. Two men were detailed to clean it out and to re-stow all the gear—Bristol-fashion and shipshape. — 1938 •(figurative, old-fashioned) Neatly and properly arranged or organized; neat and tidy, tidy.She [Segovia] looks like a fine old clipper ship, there in the morning sun, full-rigged, full-blown, ship-shape and Bristol-fashion. — 1964 adverb1 •(UK, old-fashioned) In a neat and tidy, or proper, manner; properly, tidily.It is often the custom of men-of-war's men, when they deem anything to be going on wrong aboard ship, to refer to last cruise, when of course everything was done shipshape and Bristol fashion. — 1850
