to spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
[spoil] the ship for a ha’penny-worth of tarto spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar
01
***to ruin something simply to avoid some minor difficulty, inconvenience, or expense.
Dialect
British
British
例
You know your mom is going to be offended, so please call her before the dinner party — do not spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar.
