Words we take for granted

Here are a few more phrases of probably nautical origin.

3 sheets to the wind.
No room to swing a cat
Swinging the lead
Hand over fist
Brass monkeys
At a loose end
Give a wide berth

3 sheets to the wind, is that a reference to sails not being tied down
Swing a cat, as has been said, referring to a whip
Swinging the lead, had that originally been to do with taking depth readings, where they drop the lead weighted rope?
Hand over fist, again as said connected to pulling on a rope ie. pulling on a rope to pull a boat into the pier
Brass monkeys, not sure where it came from but wonder if brass becomes brittle in the cold
At a loose end, again not sure but wonder if it has to do with a sail not secured
Give a wide berth, possibly connected to sailing well away from a dangerous area or ship