Clear
Eudora Thao
2021-01-13 11:01
Spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth/ha'pennyworth of tar British old-fashioned phrase
For a (half) pennyworth of tar, that is, for lack of spending a trivial amount on tar, it was originally to lose a sheep, or a hog, with reference to the use of tar to protect sores and wounds on sheep from flies. The spelling ship represents a sheep's dialectal pronunciation.
The phrase does not spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth, or a halfpennyworth, of tar means that ruin big things by trying to economize on trivial things.
Hey, honey! I want to use the best things for our wedding party because don't spoil the ship for a ha'p'orth of tar.
I think you would spoil a ship for a tar ha'porth if you used the low-quality audio system.
The verb "spoil" should be conjugated according to its tense.
Advertisements for the unexperienced planters of New-England, or anywhere, is the earliest known instance of the phrase, or with the yearely proceedings of this country in fishing and planting, since the year 1614, the path-way to experience to build a plantation. 1630, to the yeare and the present estate of them. Also, by their proceedings in Virginia and other plantations, by approved examples, how to prevent the greatest inconveniences. A summary of the coast with the arms of countries, harbours, houses, landmarks, latitude and longitude: with the map, permitted by our Royal King Charles (London, 1631), John Smith (born 1580-died 1631).
Do you see anything wrong?
