Splice the mainbrace

A literal, physically demanding piece of Royal Navy work. The mainbrace was a crucial rope controlling the mainsail, and repairing or "splicing" it after damage in battle or bad weather was one of the most difficult jobs aboard a sailing warship. Crews who completed the repair were traditionally rewarded with an extra ration of rum, and the order to "splice the mainbrace" eventually became naval shorthand for authorising a drink, regardless of whether any actual rope was involved.